US Troop Reductions Spark Concern in Eastern Europe

Thu Oct 30 2025 16:56:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The US plans to reduce its military presence in Romania, lowering troop numbers from 1,700 to between 900 and 1,000, amid shifting defense priorities. This move raises alarms in Eastern Europe amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Romania's defense ministry has announced that the US will cut its troop numbers stationed in the country, with about 900 to 1,000 troops remaining—a significant drop from the 1,700 currently deployed. This decision aligns with the US shift in focus toward the Indo-Pacific region, raising concerns about military support amidst rising Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. NATO officials maintain that the US commitment to the alliance is stable, despite the changes.

Romania's defence ministry has said the US intends to reduce some of its troops stationed on NATO's eastern flank.

Between 900 and 1,000 American troops will remain in Romania, Bucharest said - down from 1,700.

The ministry stated that the decision was expected and that the 'resizing' of US forces was a result of the new priorities of the Trump presidential administration.

Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu stated that his US counterpart Pete Hegseth had recently conveyed to the Europeans that they needed to pay more attention to their own defence and that the US was shifting its attention towards the Indo-Pacific region.

One US brigade at the Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase - set to be NATO's largest in Europe - would be rotated out and not replaced, Mosteanu said.

The brigade has 'elements' in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary; however, it is unclear whether US troops would be withdrawn from these countries as well.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday that Warsaw had 'no information' about a possible reduction of US troops on its territory.

The presence of US troops at Romania's Deveselu and Campia Turzii bases will remain unchanged, according to Mosteanu.

Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to refocus US military commitment from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region, urging European NATO members to take more responsibility for their own security.

The news of the US troop withdrawal is alarming for many Eastern European countries, which still fear potential threats from Russia.

Following the announcement from Bucharest, a NATO official emphasized that the US’s commitment to the NATO alliance remains 'clear' and adjustments are 'not unusual'.

'Even with this adjustment, the US force posture in Europe remains larger than it has been for many years, with many more US forces on the continent than before 2022,' the official said.

As of late last year, over 100,000 military personnel were deployed by the US in Europe.

Last month, NATO announced the establishment of a mission called Eastern Sentry, aimed at enhancing vigilance along the eastern flank following a series of incursions by Russian drones into Polish and Romanian airspace.