According to them, the possible withdrawal of US troops would most likely affect Germany, Italy, and Spain – countries that US President Donald Trump criticized this year for what he considered insufficient support in the war against Iran.
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The main part of the US forces in Europe is deployed in these three countries, and the total number of American troops on the continent reaches 80,000.
It would be the largest reduction of US military presence in Europe since the end of the Cold War
Despite Washington’s NATO allies’ warnings about the growing threat of Russian aggression, the US may withdraw about 25,000 of its troops from Europe.
One US official and another source familiar with the considerations said the contingent could be reduced by half – to 40,000 troops.
If such a plan is implemented, it would be the largest reduction of US military presence in Europe since the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, NBC notes.
However, according to a senior Pentagon spokesperson and two other officials, no decisions have been made yet.
Will present 4 options
The US Department of Defense announced in June that it was starting a six-month review of the US military presence in Europe.
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It is expected that on Friday, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, will present preliminary conclusions to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
According to US and Western officials, the general will likely present four possible courses of action.
Among them – reductions in US aviation, Navy personnel, ground forces, or other capabilities, as well as the possible relocation of some forces in Europe to NATO’s eastern flank countries.
The final draft of recommendations is to be submitted to P. Hegseth by November 6, and then passed on to the president.
Any troop withdrawal actions would begin only after that.
As stated by a senior US Department of Defense official, the Pentagon chief initiated the review of US forces in Europe to “ensure our force structure aligns with common sense and President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ strategy.”
“A reduction of 25,000 troops is categorically unacceptable. Deterring Russia for pennies is impossible,” said one Republican member of Congress, recalling that two rotational brigade groups were already withdrawn from Germany last year amid concerns about growing Russian aggression in the region.
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