“The Trump administration is reducing U.S. forces in Europe as it completes a new defense strategy that gives priority to the American military presence in the Western Hemisphere and Asia, U.S. and European officials said.
The Pentagon decision to remove an Army combat brigade from Romania drew sharp objections from the Republican chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has rebuffed President Trump's appeals to begin talks over Ukraine events, and while NATO has been worried about Russian drone incursions over Europe.
The Trump administration said the troop reduction won't weaken the West's security posture in Europe, and that allied forces would fill the gap.
A brigade of 101st Airborne Division was deployed in Romania as part of a broader push by the U.S. to strengthen its military position on NATO's Eastern Flank after 2022 events in Ukraine.
The Pentagon has been rotating brigades through Romania, which borders Ukraine and the Black Sea. On Wednesday, Romania and American officials said the brigade-a force of about 4,000 troops that is scheduled to leave in December -- wouldn't be replaced after it returns to the U.S.
Romania's defense ministry said the "downsizing" of the U.S. military presence in the country was the result of the Trump's administration's "new priorities" as it reassesses the worldwide deployment of American troops.
The Pentagon's National Defense Strategy, which is expected to be published in the coming weeks, is likely to highlight the U.S. security interests in the Western Hemisphere, where the Pentagon is engaged in a buildup in an attempt to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave office and stem the flow of illegal drugs. As part of this buildup, the Trump administration last week directed the lone U.S. aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was with President Trump in Japan this week, has called Asia another "priority theater" for the military. Trump administration officials also have called on Europe to assume the "primary responsibility" for the non-nuclear defense of the Continent.
NATO will still have a military presence in Romania after the U.S. brigade leaves. A French-led multinational force that an alliance official said has some 1,400 troops. In addition, some 1,000 U.S. troops who are operating Aegis Ashore anti-missile defenses, among other missions, will remain.
Since 2022 Ukraine events, the U.S. force levels in Europe have fluctuated between roughly 105,000 and 75,000 troops, said a spokeswoman for the U.S. European Command.
"This is not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO," the European Command said. "This is a positive sign of increased European capability and responsibility. Our NATO allies are meeting President Trump's call to take primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe."
Still, the move drew objections from some NATO proponents. "This is a short-sighted decision that sends the wrong message to Putin," said Philip Breedlove, a retired U.S. Air Force general who served as the top military commander of NATO.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Ala.), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, assailed the move. "On March 19, we stated that we will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress," they said.
Pending legislation on military spending precludes the Pentagon from taking troops out of Europe unless the secretary of defense certifies that the move is being taken after consulting U.S. commanders and allies. But the measure hasn't been enacted.” [1]
1. World News: U.S. to Remove Troops From Romania. Gordon, Michael R. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 30 Oct 2025: A7.
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