The downsizing could reportedly affect half of the forces deployed by ex-President Joe Biden after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict
The US is considering withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, NBC News reported on Tuesday, citing sources. The move could come as US President Donald Trump is engaged in talks with Russia to reach a settlement in the Ukraine conflict and seeks to focus more on China.
The units in question are among the 20,000 personnel deployed to the continent by the administration of former US President Joe Biden in 2022 after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, six unnamed US and European officials familiar with the matter told the network.
The sources noted that while the exact figure is still under discussion, the proposal could affect US troops stationed in Romania and Poland – two NATO members close to the Russian border.
According to NBC, European officials expressed concern that a potential drawdown could stoke fears within NATO that the US is abandoning the bloc in the face of the perceived Russian threat.
Former US Defense Department senior official Seth Jones said the move would weaken the US military posture and increase Moscow’s “willingness to meddle in various ways across the spectrum in Europe.”
As of early 2025, there were nearly 84,000 US troops stationed in Europe, with the bulk concentrated in Germany and Poland, with more modest forces deployed in Romania, Estonia, and Lithuania, according to the US European Command.
The report comes as the Trump administration continues to push European NATO members to take more responsibility for their own defense, including by increasing defense spending while focusing on China containment.
Meanwhile, the US is engaged in talks with Russia to reach a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict and restore bilateral relations, which sank to an all-time low during the Biden administration. Moscow has repeatedly expressed strong concern about NATO expansion and the bloc’s military activities on its borders.
Russia has welcomed what it called a willingness by Washington to explore the “root causes” of the Ukraine conflict – including Kiev’s desire to join NATO, which has long been a red line for Moscow.
