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US will reduce its troops on Nato's eastern flank, Romania says

October 29, 2025

The United States plans to reduce its military presence in Romania from approximately 1,700 troops to between 900 and 1,000 personnel, marking a significant drawdown on NATO's eastern flank. Romanian defense officials characterize this reduction as an expected adjustment reflecting the Trump administration's strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific region and its push for greater European defense responsibility. One US brigade stationed at the Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase will be rotated out without replacement, though American forces will remain at other Romanian bases.

Who is affected

  • American military personnel stationed in Romania (approximately 700-800 troops being reduced)
  • Romania and its defense ministry
  • Eastern European NATO members, particularly Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Hungary (where the departing brigade has "elements")
  • Poland (seeking clarification about potential troop reductions on its territory)
  • NATO alliance members on the eastern flank
  • European NATO members being pressured to increase defense spending

What action is being taken

  • The US is reducing troop numbers in Romania from 1,700 to 900-1,000
  • One US brigade at the Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase is being rotated out without replacement
  • The US is shifting military focus and resources toward the Indo-Pacific region
  • NATO is implementing the Eastern Sentry mission to enhance vigilance along the eastern flank

Why it matters

  • This troop reduction is significant because it occurs amid heightened tensions with Russia, demonstrated by recent airspace violations in Poland, Romania, and Estonia. Eastern European countries on NATO's eastern flank view US military presence as crucial deterrence against potential Russian aggression, making them particularly vulnerable to perceived reductions in American commitment. The move reflects a broader strategic shift in US defense priorities away from Europe toward the Indo-Pacific, while simultaneously increasing pressure on European nations to assume greater responsibility for their own continental defense—a longstanding Trump administration demand.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC