Rutte dismisses concerns over US troop withdrawal from Europe
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday denied any indication that the United States was reviewing its military presence on the continent, saying instead Washington would maintain "a very strong conventional" deployment in Europe.
"What we know is that the US, next to Europe, of course also has to take care of the Middle East, has to take care of the Indo-pacific and it is only logical that over time as we are building up that the US will pivot so much more towards Asia," Rutte told journalists at a press conference in Vilnius on Monday.
"But I am convinced there will be a very strong conventional US presence in Europe, next to the nuclear presence," the NATO chief added, speaking on the margins of a summit in Vilnius with the Bucharest Nine (B9) format and Nordic countries.
Rutte's comments come amid long-standing allegations – spurred by US-Russia talks to end Moscow's war in Ukraine – that Washington would reduce or withdraw its troops in Europe.
Last February, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Europeans during a visit to Poland that US troops on the continent were "important," and that "you can't make an assumption that America's presence will last forever."
The US had nearly 84,000 service members in Europe in early 2025, according to a report from the Council on Foreign Relations, which also specifies that over the course of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, the total number of troops has ranged between approximately 75,000 and 105,000 military personnel.
In Vilnius, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda echoed Rutte's remarks, saying he had not received any indication of a US troop withdrawal or reduction in Europe.
Nausėda said there were so far 1,000 US soldiers "standing shoulder to should with the soldiers of Germany, Norway, and NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence," which includes battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
"We are ready to increase this number if there is political will from the US administration," Nausėda added.
Candy manufacturer Haribo has recalled its 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz in Belgium after traces of cannabis were found in some bags in the Netherlands, the Belgian food agency FAVV-AFSCA confirmed on Monday.
In a joint press release with the agency, Haribo noted that consumption of these sweets can lead to health complaints such as dizziness.
The withdrawal concerns large bags of fizzy colas with production code L341-4002307906 — the same batch that was recalled earlier in the Netherlands.
"Haribo has carried out this recall in Belgium as a precautionary measure," Belgian food agency spokesperson Liesbeth Van de Voorde told Euronews.
She noted that, so far, no reports have been received in Belgium of people becoming unwell after eating the sweets. "We have set up a consumer hotline for this purpose, and we have not received any news of issues in Belgium."
People are strongly advised not to eat the recalled sweets. In case of consumption, it is recommended to contact a GP immediately.
The one-kilogram bags of sour candies were already withdrawn from sale in the Netherlands following reports that several people in the country, including adults and children, reported feeling unwell after eating these sweets.
A sample testing revealed that the product was laced with cannabis after police were notified of the issue. Dutch authorities are now investigating how the candy became contaminated with these drugs.
In the Netherlands, only three bags are involved so far. Still, Haribo is recalling the entire stock in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
"The authorities' investigation concerns a limited number of reports and one specific product in the east of the Netherlands," Patrick Tax, marketing head for Haribo Netherlands and Belgium, told domestic media in Belgium.
The withdrawal only concerns Haribo's 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz with an expiry date until January 2026 and production code L341-4002307906.
It is not clear which Belgian shops were selling these large packs. Van de Voorde added that this is the only product for which the agency has received information, meaning no other products are currently deemed a risk.
Instead of returning it to the store where they purchased it, consumers are asked to send the product to the Belgian head office. Affected consumers should provide their details and bank account number to receive a refund.
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