US Plans Troop Reduction on NATO's Eastern Flank, Romania Confirms

Sat Dec 20 2025 02:41:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Romanian defense ministry announces a significant reduction in American troops stationed in Romania, prompting discussions on NATO's future strategic priorities amid shifting US focus towards the Indo-Pacific region.

Romania's defense ministry has disclosed that the US will decrease its troop presence on NATO's eastern flank, from 1,700 to between 900 and 1,000 soldiers. This reduction aligns with the US administration's shift in military strategy and has raised concerns among Eastern European nations amid fears of potential Russian aggression.

Romania's defense ministry has announced that the US intends to reduce its troop presence stationed on NATO's eastern flank.

According to the ministry, between 900 and 1,000 American troops will remain in Romania, reflecting a drop from the current 1,700.

This decision has been characterized as expected, attributed to a 'resizing' of US forces stemming from the new priorities set by the Trump administration.

The Pentagon reassured that this move does not signal a withdrawal from Europe or a decreased commitment to NATO and Article 5, which establishes mutual defense obligations among NATO allies.

Article 5 is viewed as a fundamental deterrent against potential Russian aggression. Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu noted that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently indicated that European nations need to enhance their own defense initiatives, as US focus pivots towards the Indo-Pacific region.

The brigade stationed at Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase will be rotated out without a replacement, highlighting ongoing strategic adjustments. Mosteanu mentioned that the brigade also has components in Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Hungary, although it remains uncertain if US troops will be withdrawn from those nations.

Furthermore, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz indicated that Warsaw was not informed of any plans to reduce US troop numbers in Poland.

Despite the reductions, the presence of US troops at the Deveselu and Campia Turzii bases in Romania remains unchanged. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, there have been clear intentions to refocus US military resources from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region, accompanied by calls for European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for their collective defense.

The announcement has raised anxieties among Eastern European countries that are wary of Russian aggression. Following Bucharest's announcement, a NATO official reinforced that US support for the NATO alliance remains 'clear' and that such adjustments are not uncommon.

The Pentagon underlined that even with this adjustment, the US troop presence in Europe is larger than it was in previous years, with over 100,000 military personnel currently deployed in the region.

Last month, NATO introduced a new mission named Eastern Sentry, designed to bolster the alliance's vigilance along the eastern flank, following several alleged incursions into member airspace by Russian drones and warplanes since the war began in February 2022.