The White House has suspended the reduction of U.S. troops in Europe – WSJ
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth had planned to announce further reductions in the U.S. military presence in Europe, but the White House blocked the decision. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Donald Trump administration has not yet decided on the scope of the upcoming changes.
As WSJ sources note, Hagseth had planned to travel to Brussels last month to announce during a meeting with NATO’s top military leadership that the U.S. was preparing an additional reduction in its military presence in Europe, which would go beyond the canceled deployment of an armored brigade to Poland and the withdrawal of an infantry brigade from Romania.
However, Hegset’s proposal was rejected after it was brought to the attention of Marco Rubio—President Trump’s national security adviser—and other senior officials.
As a result, the Pentagon chief announced at a meeting of NATO defense ministers that the U.S. would conduct a review of its troop presence in Europe, which could take up to six months.
This incident indicates that the administration has not yet decided on the pace and scale of a potential reduction in U.S. troop levels in Europe, the publication notes.
Hegset’s proposals and inflammatory remarks have alarmed allies and lawmakers—including some leading Republicans—who fear he will cause lasting damage to NATO and embolden Russia.
“Secretary Hegset made sure his statement was in line with President Trump’s goals and agenda. He did not want to limit the president’s freedom to make decisions,” said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
The issues of U.S. troop levels and allies’ defense spending are expected to be key topics during Trump’s meeting with NATO leaders in Ankara next week.
NATO hopes that the summit in Ankara will demonstrate unity with the U.S. and support for Ukraine, but at the same time fears that tensions in relations with Trump could negatively impact the leaders’ meeting. Media reports have indicated that Alliance officials are considering canceling plans to hold next year’s summit in Albania.
The prospect of further reductions in the U.S. military presence in Europe remains a possibility. Hegset and his chief policy advisor, Elbridge Colby, are pushing hard to reduce the number of U.S. troops deployed in Europe. Throughout his years at the Department of Defense and beyond, Colby has been regarded as someone who sets priorities and advocates for limiting U.S. commitments outside Asia in order to free up resources to counter Beijing, the WSJ reports.
At the upcoming NATO summit, allies plan to reaffirm their long-term support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that assistance must be stable, predictable, and designed for the long term.
Russia may have been conducting covert reconnaissance of NATO countries’ nuclear facilities for over a year and a half using drones launched from ships in its so-called “shadow fleet.”
