The Pentagon is considering a substantial withdrawal from Europe of US aircraft, ships, weapons and tens of thousands of service personnel. It could amount to up to a third of all US forces in Europe — around 25,000 people — NBC News reports, citing information from sources.
A US official and another informed source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the reduction in presence could prove even larger — up to 40,000 troops. If implemented, it would be the most significant reduction of the United States’ 80,000-strong military presence in Europe since the Cold War.
No final decision has yet been made, the journalists noted. General Alexus Grynkewich, who heads US European Command and is NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, is due to present an analysis to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth as early as today.
The Secretary is expected to receive a final proposal by 6 November and then present it to the President. The likely reduction is causing concern in some European governments amid warnings about Russian provocations.
The new US administration has long spoken about the possibility of reducing the military presence in allied countries in Europe. The New York Times wrote that this could involve cutting the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets available for NATO operations in Europe from about 150 to 100 aircraft. The US will also reduce the number of maritime reconnaissance aircraft from 26 to 15 and completely withdraw eight aerial refuelling tankers that had previously been assigned to the European theatre.