NATO Downplays U.S. Troop Reduction in Eastern Europe as Strategic Adjustment

NATO officials stated on Wednesday that they were previously notified about U.S. plans to reduce some of its military presence along the alliance's eastern border, characterizing this reduction as a standard "adjustment" rather than anything "unusual."

A NATO representative assured AFP that Washington's dedication to the alliance remains "clear" and the American military footprint in Europe continues to be substantial.

"Despite this adjustment, U.S. military presence in Europe still exceeds levels from recent years, with significantly more American forces stationed on the continent than before 2022," the official explained.

The United States has been anticipated to announce troop reductions in Europe following a comprehensive review of its global military deployments, though no official announcement has been made yet.

Romania's defense ministry, however, revealed details about the scale-down on Wednesday, indicating that Washington would discontinue the rotation of a brigade that had components stationed across several NATO member states, including Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary.

The possibility of a U.S. withdrawal has caused anxiety among allies, particularly given concerns that Russia might consider attacking a NATO country within the coming years if the Ukraine conflict subsides.

NATO quickly minimized the importance of the planned U.S. personnel reduction.

"The U.S. commitment to NATO is clear," the alliance representative emphasized.

"NATO has robust defense plans established and we are continuously working to ensure we maintain appropriate forces and capabilities to deter potential aggression and provide for our collective defense."