Washington Draws Down European Troops as Focus Shifts Toward Indo-Pacific

On Wednesday, Romania’s defense ministry announced that the United States plans to reduce its troop presence along NATO’s eastern flank, marking a strategic shift towards other global priorities.

The Romanian ministry has revealed that Washington will stop the scheduled rotation of a U.S. Army brigade that had been stationed in various NATO countries, including a base in Romania. The government will host approximately 1,000 American troops, a decrease from the reported 1,700 earlier this year. A standard brigade is made up of between 1,500 and 3,000 soldiers.

The U.S. Army has officially announced that it will not be sending a replacement unit to Europe following the return of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division to its base in Kentucky. The Army highlighted that the change “is not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of reduced commitment to NATO and Article 5.”

“This reflects a promising development in the enhancement of European capability and responsibility,” stated U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “Our allies are responding to President Trump’s request to take the lead in ensuring the conventional defense of Europe.”

Romania’s Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu stated that the decision indicates a change in Washington's focus toward the Indo-Pacific region, while emphasizing that the number of allied troops will remain higher than before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“Our strategic partnership is strong, consistent, and trustworthy,” Mosteanu stated at a press conference in Bucharest.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker shared his thoughts on X, stating that America’s “strong presence in and enduring commitment to Europe remains steadfast, including support for Eastern Sentry,” a NATO operation along the alliance’s eastern border.

The reduction occurs alongside NATO's ongoing military expansion in nations adjacent to Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. In response to the conflict in Ukraine, NATO has set up more multinational battle groups in Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia, thereby boosting the presence of European troops along the eastern flank.

Romania’s defense ministry stated that the U.S. decision took into account NATO’s increased presence in the region, enabling Washington to “adjust its military posture” while maintaining collective security.

A NATO official, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that these adjustments “are not unusual” and emphasized that the American presence in Europe “remains larger than it has been for many years.”

“Despite this change, NATO maintains a strong ability to deter and defend,” the official stated.