Pentagon weighs withdrawal of up to 40,000 US troops from Europe

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is considering a major reduction in the number of US troops and military assets stationed in Europe, with options including the withdrawal of at least 25,000 personnel and potentially as many as 40,000, according to US and Western officials familiar with the discussions. 

The proposals are part of a six-month review of the US military posture in Europe launched by the Pentagon earlier this year. No final decision has been made, and several options remain under consideration, officials said.

The most widely reported option would remove about 25,000 troops from Europe, representing nearly one-third of the approximately 80,000 US service members currently stationed on the continent. A more extensive option could reduce the force by as many as 40,000 personnel.

The review covers more than troop numbers. Pentagon officials are also examining possible changes involving aircraft, naval forces, weapons systems and the broader US military infrastructure in Europe.

Germany, Italy and Spain are among the countries that could be affected because they host some of the largest US military deployments on the continent, according to officials cited in reports on the deliberations.

The discussions have raised concern among some NATO allies, particularly as European governments face continued security challenges related to Russia and the war in Ukraine.

The proposed reductions also come amid a broader effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to encourage European allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defence. Washington has repeatedly pressed NATO members to increase defence spending and reduce their reliance on US military capabilities.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the European force review in June. The assessment is being led by senior Pentagon officials and involves the US military command responsible for operations in Europe.

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of US European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, has been involved in the review and is expected to provide recommendations to Hegseth. A final recommendation is expected in November before being presented to Trump. 

The possible drawdown has also prompted debate in Washington. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has called for US diplomats to be more closely involved in the review because changes to troop deployments could affect relations with European allies.

The Pentagon's review comes as Washington reassesses its global military priorities. The administration's defence strategy has placed greater emphasis on shifting resources toward other regions, including the Indo-Pacific, while expecting European partners to take a larger role in their own defence.

At the same time, the United States has continued to deploy forces to parts of Europe. On Tuesday, Lithuania said a new rotation of US troops was being sent to the NATO member, which borders Russia and Belarus. Lithuanian officials welcomed the deployment as a sign of continued US engagement despite uncertainty surrounding the broader force review.

The review therefore does not yet amount to a decision to withdraw US forces from Europe. Officials are weighing several alternatives, including reducing forces, repositioning some units toward NATO's eastern flank or maintaining different levels of military capability across the continent.

Any substantial reduction would mark a significant change in the US military presence in Europe, which has remained a central component of NATO's collective defence structure for decades.

GAROWE ONLINE