The United States will reduce part of its military presence on NATO’s eastern flank, including in Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary, according to an announcement from the Romanian government. Officials emphasized that this is not a full withdrawal, but rather the end of the rotation of a U.S. brigade deployed across several allied countries.
After the adjustment, between 900 and 1,000 American troops will remain stationed in Romania to help maintain deterrence against potential threats, while key strategic installations — such as the missile defense system in Deveselu, and the Campia Turzii and Mihail Kogălniceanu air bases — will remain fully operational.
The decision reflects a shift under the administration of President Donald Trump, although NATO has stressed that the move does not weaken the United States’ commitment to European security. Alliance officials noted that the current U.S. military footprint in Europe remains significantly larger than before 2022, especially after Washington strengthened its presence following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increased tensions across the region.
Previous reports indicated that the White House had considered withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe. Today, the United States maintains roughly 100,000 forces in Europe, including approximately 65,000 permanently stationed soldiers. Germany continues to host the largest U.S. military presence on the continent.
With this adjustment, Washington aims to balance regional defense needs while pursuing broader strategic priorities in an evolving geopolitical environment.
