Romania says the US will reduce its troop presence in NATO's eastern flank

Romania's Defense Ministry has stated that the US intends to reduce some of its troops deployed in NATO's eastern flank.

Bucharest stated that 900 to 1,000 US troops will remain in Romania – down from 1,700 previously.

The ministry stated that the decision was expected and that the "downsizing" of US forces was a result of the Trump administration's new priorities.The Pentagon stated that the decision does not "signal a withdrawal from Europe or a diminished commitment to NATO and Article 5."

 Article 5 states that NATO members will come to the defense of an ally that is attacked, and it has long been seen as the main deterrent against potential Russian aggression.

Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said that his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, recently told European countries that they need to focus more on their defense and that the US is shifting its focus to the Indo-Pacific region.

Mosteanu said that a US brigade at Mihai Kogălniceanu Air Base, which will be NATO's largest airbase in Europe, will not be replaced but will be relocated. 

Mosteanu said that "elements" of this brigade are in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, although it is unclear whether US troops will be withdrawn from these countries as well. 

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday that Warsaw has "no information" about a possible reduction of US troops on its territory.

Ionut Mosteanu further said that the presence of US troops at Romania's Deveselu and Câmpia Turzii bases will remain unchanged. 

Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to shift the focus of US military commitments from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region, repeatedly urging European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for the continent's defense.

 But the announcement of the withdrawal of US troops from Romania will be worrying for Eastern European countries, many of which feel vulnerable to future Russian attacks.

 Immediately following the announcement from Bucharest, a NATO official stressed that Washington's commitment to the NATO alliance is "clear" and adjustments are "not unusual."

 "Despite this adjustment, the US military posture in Europe remains larger than it has been in many years, and there are more US forces on the continent than before 2022," the official said in a statement.

 The Pentagon also emphasized that the US maintains a "strong presence" across Europe and the ability to "mobilize forces and capabilities to meet objectives... including President Trump's commitment to protect NATO allies."

 According to data from the end of last year, the US has more than 100,000 military personnel deployed in Europe.

 Last month, NATO announced the creation of a mission called Eastern Sentry, which it said would enhance the alliance's vigilance throughout the eastern region.

This decision came after a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace, the most serious incident of its kind since the war began in February 2022. A few days later, Romania reported that a Russian drone had violated its airspace, and Estonia said that Russian warplanes had also violated its airspace