US may pull about 5,000 troops from Europe, well below feared 25,000

A smaller cut than feared

Bloomberg reported on Saturday, 14 November, that the reduction of American forces in Europe will be smaller than originally expected. Citing people familiar with the matter, the agency said several thousand soldiers may leave the continent, and one of its sources put the figure at 5,000. European officials had earlier feared a withdrawal of as many as 25,000 troops, a scale that NBC News had also reported. According to the agency's sources, a smaller reduction now looks more likely because of a positive assessment of European investment in defence. RMF24 puts the current US presence in Europe at about 80,000 military personnel and says Washington now leans toward a much smaller reduction of about 5,000.

Stationed in Europe now80,000

Withdrawal feared earlier25,000

Withdrawal cited by Bloomberg source5,000

Stationed in Europe now

80000 soldiers

Withdrawal feared earlier

25000 soldiers

Withdrawal cited by Bloomberg source

5000 soldiers

Data from the article text

Where the troops are

Most of the forces that could leave are stationed in Germany, which hosts the largest American contingent in Europe. Bloomberg's sources say Pentagon leaders recognised how much the European deployments matter for American operations in the Middle East, particularly amid the war with Iran. RMF24 adds that allied infrastructure and European airspace are being used by the United States in operations aimed at Iran. The same report lists the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign against Iran among the factors that shifted the planning.

Eastern flank and Poland

NATO plans to strengthen its presence on the eastern flank of the alliance, and countries bordering Russia have said they are ready to co-finance the cost of keeping American troops on their soil. RMF24 notes that such an arrangement could encourage Washington to keep, or even increase, its military presence in that part of Europe. Deputy Defence Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said on Thursday, 12 November, that the review had reached a conclusion about Poland:

“The review ended with the conclusion that a (permanent) base should be established in Poland.”

European officials had been given different dates for when the review results might be announced. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander and head of US European Command, presented his report to Elbridge Colby in September.

Who decides and when

The final decision rests with President Donald Trump, Bloomberg's sources stress. Elbridge Colby is due to present a formal report on the proposed changes to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and RMF24 says the schedule has Hegseth presenting final proposals to Trump on 1 December. Matt Whitaker, the US ambassador to NATO, said in early November that he did not expect large-scale action on the deployment of forces. Hegseth has argued that European allies should carry more responsibility for their own security and fund more of their defence. The Pentagon said in a statement that the review is ongoing and that it has nothing more to announce for now.