NBC reports potential US withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe
The United States is reportedly contemplating a withdrawal of as many as 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, according to NBC News, which cited sources familiar with the situation. This potential move is occurring as President Donald Trump engages...
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The United States is reportedly contemplating a withdrawal of as many as 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, according to NBC News, which cited sources familiar with the situation. This potential move is occurring as President Donald Trump engages in discussions with Russia aimed at reaching a settlement regarding the Ukraine conflict and is shifting focus towards China.
The forces under consideration for withdrawal are part of the 20,000 personnel that were deployed to Europe by former President Joe Biden's administration in 2022 following the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, as reported by six unnamed U.S. and European officials. The discussions suggest that the drawdown could impact U.S. troops stationed in Romania and Poland, two NATO allies situated near the Russian border.
European officials have raised concerns that a reduction of U.S. military presence might fuel anxieties within NATO about an abandonment of the alliance in light of the ongoing Russian threat.
Former U.S. Defense Department senior official Seth Jones commented that such a move would diminish the U.S. military's posture in the region and increase Moscow’s willingness to intervene more broadly across Europe.
As of early 2025, there were almost 84,000 U.S. troops stationed across Europe, primarily in Germany and Poland, with smaller contingents in Romania, Estonia, and Lithuania, according to the U.S. European Command.
This development occurs against the backdrop of the Trump administration encouraging European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for their own defense, which includes raising defense budgets while prioritizing the containment of China.
In parallel, the U.S. is in negotiations with Russia to establish a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict and to improve bilateral relations, which have deteriorated significantly during the Biden administration. Moscow has frequently voiced its strong objections to NATO's expansion and its military maneuvers near its borders.
Russia has expressed appreciation for what it perceives as a willingness from Washington to investigate the "root causes" of the Ukraine situation, including Ukraine's ambitions to join NATO, an issue that has long been a sensitive point for Moscow.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
The forces under consideration for withdrawal are part of the 20,000 personnel that were deployed to Europe by former President Joe Biden's administration in 2022 following the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, as reported by six unnamed U.S. and European officials. The discussions suggest that the drawdown could impact U.S. troops stationed in Romania and Poland, two NATO allies situated near the Russian border.
European officials have raised concerns that a reduction of U.S. military presence might fuel anxieties within NATO about an abandonment of the alliance in light of the ongoing Russian threat.
Former U.S. Defense Department senior official Seth Jones commented that such a move would diminish the U.S. military's posture in the region and increase Moscow’s willingness to intervene more broadly across Europe.
As of early 2025, there were almost 84,000 U.S. troops stationed across Europe, primarily in Germany and Poland, with smaller contingents in Romania, Estonia, and Lithuania, according to the U.S. European Command.
This development occurs against the backdrop of the Trump administration encouraging European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for their own defense, which includes raising defense budgets while prioritizing the containment of China.
In parallel, the U.S. is in negotiations with Russia to establish a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict and to improve bilateral relations, which have deteriorated significantly during the Biden administration. Moscow has frequently voiced its strong objections to NATO's expansion and its military maneuvers near its borders.
Russia has expressed appreciation for what it perceives as a willingness from Washington to investigate the "root causes" of the Ukraine situation, including Ukraine's ambitions to join NATO, an issue that has long been a sensitive point for Moscow.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
