US could slash troop presence in Europe
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has accused European NATO members of not paying their fair share of defense costs, while his administration has hinted that the US may reduce its military footprint on the continent. In February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged allies to boost defense spending, warning they cannot assume 'America's presence' in Europe 'will last forever.' Reports indicate European leaders have been unsettled by potential drawdown plans, though neither their scope nor timeline has been defined.
Aylin Matle of the German Council on Foreign Relations has predicted a roughly 20% troop reduction possibly this fall, most likely involving the removal of about 20,000 troops deployed under Joe Biden in 2022 after the Ukraine conflict escalated.
She said even such a cut 'would still leave a substantial American footprint,' noting current US troop levels fluctuate between 90,000 and 100,000. Matle further suggested that the cuts could be lower, as US forces in Europe are used for regional defense and 'projecting power into the Middle East and, to some extent, Africa.'
The report notes that Germany, which hosts the largest US contingent in Europe of around 35,000 troops at 35 sites, is particularly alarmed by the potential cuts. Berlin's concerns come amid the EU's broader militarization drive, including the €800 billion ($930 billion) ReArm Europe initiative and a recent NATO pledge to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, both citing Russia as a threat. After meeting Hegseth earlier this month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he pressed Washington for a roadmap, warning of 'dangerous capability gaps' if US forces withdraw faster than Europe can replace them.
Moscow has rejected claims it poses a threat, calling them 'nonsense' and accusing the West of using such rhetoric to justify expanding military budgets.
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