Washington plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Europe deployed on NATO’s eastern flank, with officials in Romania describing the move as part of the Trump administration’s reassessment of America’s global force posture.
Defense ministry officials in Bucharest said the Pentagon is expected to withdraw about 800 U.S. personnel, mostly assigned to the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, a key hub for NATO operations in the region.
“The decision was expected, as Romania is in permanent contact with its American strategic partner,” Romanian officials said Wednesday in a statement.
About 1,000 U.S. military personnel are expected to remain in Romania, which officials in Bucharest said amounted to a “guarantee of the U.S. commitment to regional security.” The downsizing of the U.S. forces is a result of “new priorities” of the White House that were announced in February, Romanian officials said.
“The decision also took into account the fact that NATO had strengthened its presence and activity on the Eastern Flank, which allows the United States to adjust its military posture in the region,” defense ministry officials said.
The U.S. increased troop numbers in Eastern Europe following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The forces were intended to deter Moscow from further aggression and reassure NATO allies of its commitment to regional security.
The Pentagon has not confirmed the U.S. troop withdrawal. Still, the Trump administration has made no secret of its desire to reduce America’s military footprint in Europe in favor of other regions, including the Indo-Pacific and the Western Hemisphere.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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