about 1,000 fewer soldiers in Romania

The Administration of Donald Trump plans to reduce the number of troops present on NATO’s eastern flank in the midst of an escalation of tension with Russia.

Specifically, The United States is going to withdraw part of the troops it has in Romania as reported this Wednesday by his Minister of Defense Mihail Kogalniceanu.

The Romanian Ministry of Defense stated that the decision was predictable given the changes in Washington’s priorities, and that approximately 1,000 US troops would remain stationed in Romania. Between 1,000 and 1,200 American soldiers were relieved a month ago and will not be replaced, according to a statement.

The decision, announced this Wednesday by the Romanian Government after notification from Washington, makes allies fear, especially those in the East, where the threat from the Kremlin is most perceived that it is only the beginning of the withdrawal of the United States from European soil to which President Donald Trump aspires.

The Republican Administration wants to focus more on the Indo-Pacific and believes that The Old Continent must take more care of its own security.

Washington’s European allies have already been warned by the Trump Administration that must take greater responsibility for their own safety as the United States focuses more on its own borders and the Indo-Pacific region.

The US Army, for its part, stated that the decision not to replace US troops withdrawing from Romania it was “neither an American withdrawal from Europe nor a sign of less commitment to NATO.”

The Russian threat

But, in an unusual move, the top Republican lawmakers Americans on the Senate and House Armed Services Committees harshly criticized this measure.

“We strongly oppose the decision not to maintain the American rotational brigade in Romania,” says the joint statement, which adds that lawmakers are requesting clarification from the Pentagon.

EU and NATO member Romania shares a 650 kilometer land border with Ukraine and has seen how drones Russians violated their airspace more than 20 times in the last two yearsplus mines floating in the Black Sea along key trade and energy routes.

The Ministry of Defense of Slovakia He stated that the decision not to replace the rotating brigade only affected Romania and that Slovakia’s defense was guaranteed by its multinational NATO brigade led by Spain.

Despite concern on NATO’s eastern flank about the possible reduction of the US presence in the region, at a time when Russia continues the war in Ukraine, Trump left the door open in September for Washington could increase its troop presence in Poland.

However, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Lithuanian presidential advisor Deividas Matulionis said they had not received any information about a possible reduction of US troops on their territory.