NATO assures that the reduction of US troops will not affect the defense capability in Europe
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that American troops in Europe remain substantial, despite the partial withdrawal of the contingent from Romania.
At a press conference in Bucharest, held jointly with Romanian President Nicusor Dan, Mark Rutte expressed NATO’s stance that the reaction to the withdrawal of US troops from Romania might be somewhat exaggerated. According to him, changes in NATO’s contingent are a normal practice that has occurred in previous years as well.
Rutte noted that the presence of American military forces on the continent still exceeds the level it was before 2022. The NATO Secretary General also mentioned that the USA, under the leadership of then-President Donald Trump, supports the Alliance and joint efforts, including increasing the number of brigades and using innovative tactics such as marine drones.
The President of Romania emphasized the importance of NATO’s Eastern Sentry program, aimed at strengthening the air defense of member countries against potential threats from Russia. In the context of this program, exercises were conducted in the Romanian town of Cincu, involving 5000 allied troops.
Earlier, on April 8, NBC reported that the Pentagon is considering the withdrawal of up to 10,000 American troops from Eastern European countries. The Romanian Defense Ministry confirmed on October 29 the reduction of American presence at the Mihai Kogălniceanu base. However, the U.S. Army command in Europe emphasized that this move will not affect the overall security in the European Union.
Meanwhile, in the U.S. Senate, the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw troops was criticized, deeming it potentially a wrong signal to Russia.
| Indicator | Before 2022 | After 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of US troops in Europe | Less | More |
| Use of innovative tactics (drones) | No | Yes |
| Participation in exercises (Cincu) | – | 5000 troops |
