Trump’s pressure is changing Europe’s defense plans — The Japan Times
In Romania and other NATO countries, allies are reviewing defense planning and arms procurement amid pressure from US President Donald Trump over military spending and a possible change in the American presence in Europe. As The Japan Times reports, at least eight Alliance states, including Canada, Poland, Denmark, and Spain, are beginning to diversify defense procurement, reducing dependence on US weapons, technologies, and defense companies.
Last year, approximately half of the roughly 2,000 US military personnel left Romania, most of whom had been stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base near Constanța. At the same time, the United States continues to use European military infrastructure: more than two months after deployment, nine KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft involved in supporting US aviation during the war with Iran were still at the base.
Review of military presence
According to two US officials, before the NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels in June, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth had planned to announce a reduction of approximately 25,000 US troops in Europe. Such a move would have reduced the number of forces below the congressionally mandated minimum of 76,000 personnel. Instead, the Pentagon launched a six-month review of the deployment of US forces in Europe.
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In August, the department prepared a document for allies containing 57 questions about their military, financial, and ideological commitment to the United States, the publication writes. One question concerned whether a country had publicly supported Washington’s foreign policy priorities. According to government audits and congressional testimony, more than 81,000 US military personnel are stationed in Europe, and their number changes due to rotations and exercises.
The importance of European bases
Despite harsh rhetoric regarding NATO, the Trump administration continues to invest in allies’ military facilities. The United States has invested more than $100 million in expanding Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base. Romania is simultaneously implementing a project worth about $2.7 billion that is expected to turn the base into NATO’s largest air base in Europe by 2040, capable of accommodating up to 20,000 people.
The United States also announced $400 million in contracts for work at Morón Air Base in Spain, while ongoing and planned projects worth more than $4.2 billion are being implemented at seven air bases in the United Kingdom. European officials link drone and sabotage incidents in Europe to Moscow. Denis Gonchar, the ambassador of the Russian Federation, an aggressor state, to Belgium, denied Russia’s involvement in these incidents.
