Pentagon Reviews Potential Troop Reduction in Europe, Faces Strong Opposition

Military leaders and bipartisan lawmakers push back against proposals to withdraw up to 10,000 U.S. troops, citing the need to deter Russian aggression.

The Pentagon is considering a proposal to withdraw up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, nearly half of the forces deployed following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command, and key Republican lawmakers have strongly advised maintaining current troop levels to uphold NATO deterrence.
Bipartisan members of Congress stress that reducing U.S. forces could embolden Russian aggression and undermine NATO's credibility.
The proposed reduction is part of a broader U.S. defense strategy shift prioritizing the Indo-Pacific region over Europe.
European nations are exploring independent defense strategies, including potential nuclear capabilities, as concerns grow over U.S. retrenchment.