The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it will reduce the number of US troops stationed in Europe to the levels that existed before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, reports the Financial Times. The American Department of Defense specified that the number of combat brigades deployed on the continent will be reduced from four to three, the decision being the result of a broad reassessment of the American military presence in Europe. The measure represents the latest step by the administration led by Donald Trump to pressure European allies to assume a greater share of the responsibility for the defense of the continent. You may also be interested: Critics warn, however, that the withdrawal of American troops risks weakening NATO’s deterrence capacity against Russia. The announcement comes after a week of diplomatic confusion, caused by the sudden suspension of the rotation of approximately 4,000 American soldiers to Poland, a decision that surprised the authorities in Warsaw. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the delay in troop deployment to Poland is temporary and part of a larger plan to reduce the US military presence in Europe. According to him, the final configuration of the troops will depend on the strategic assessments of the US and the ability of the European allies to contribute more to the defense of the continent. The United States has bolstered its military presence in Europe after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and has sent new troops after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The former US official for NATO and Europe policy in the Obama administration, Jim Townsend, warned that rapid troop withdrawals send a dangerous signal to Moscow. In parallel, American Vice President JD Vance stated that Washington has not yet decided whether the troops withdrawn from Poland will be relocated to other European states or outside the continent. Tensions between Washington and Berlin have also increased after the Pentagon recently announced its intention to reduce the American military presence in Germany, amid the differences between Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. However, the White House confirmed that Donald Trump intends to attend the G7 leaders’ summit in France, scheduled for June. American General Alex Grynkewich, one of the most important NATO commanders, said that he does not expect the withdrawal to exceed the threshold of 5,000 American soldiers in Europe in the near future.
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