The Pentagon is considering a smaller reduction in US troop numbers across Europe, with cuts likely to fall well below the 25,000 initially anticipated by some European allies, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
One source told Bloomberg that NATO allies now expect around 5,000 US troops to be withdrawn from the continent, where Washington maintains a military presence of roughly 80,000 personnel.
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The report comes amid an ongoing Pentagon review of US troop deployments in Europe, which has raised concerns about Washington’s commitment to European security as the continent faces its gravest crisis since the Cold War amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Pentagon had already announced plans to reduce its military presence in Germany and canceled a planned troop deployment to Poland in May, before launching a broader review in July.
The prospect of more limited cuts reflects Washington’s positive assessment of increased defense spending by European NATO allies, as well as the Pentagon’s recognition of the strategic importance of US bases in Europe, according to Bloomberg.
“We have a lot of assets here that are right where we want them,” US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said earlier this month. “I don’t expect anything big.”
Germany could face biggest cuts
Most of the proposed reductions are expected to affect Germany, which hosts the largest US military contingent in Europe, sources told Bloomberg.
Other Topics of Interest
Europe’s diplomatic problem runs deeper than the lack of a shared telephone number.
Relations between Berlin and Washington have been strained by repeated clashes between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump.
NATO’s eastern flank, however, could see its American military presence strengthened, with some countries in the region offering to help cover the costs of hosting additional US troops, Bloomberg reported.
A Pentagon official told Bloomberg that the military review was still ongoing and that there was nothing further to announce. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expected to present his final recommendations to Trump on December 1.
Poland eyes permanent base
The developments come as Poland is pushing to secure a permanent US military base to strengthen its defenses against Russia.
During talks with Hegseth in Washington earlier this week, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said he had received a “green light” from the Pentagon for the proposal, but the final decision rested with Trump.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said he expected the US president to sign off in early December.
Poland currently hosts around 10,000 US troops, most of them on rotational deployments, and has offered to cover the infrastructure costs of establishing a permanent American base.
Source: www.kyivpost.com
