So much for America protecting Europe’s eastern flank against Vladimir Putin’s imperial ambitions – even as Russian drones and jets continue to probe Nato airspace.
Plans have been unveiled for the US to reduce its the number of troops in Romania, a critical buffer zone against Russian aggression.
This includes forces who were to be stationed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, which is a strategically important airbase due to its proximity to Ukraine.
Romania’s defence ministry said earlier today: ‘We were informed about the resizing of part of the American soldiers deployed on Nato’s eastern flank, as part of the process of reassessing the global posture of the US military forces.’
It said the decision was expected given changes the ‘new priorities,’ but that roughly 1,000 US troops will continue to be stationed in the country.
‘The decision took into account that Nato has consolidated its presence and activity on the eastern flank which enables the US to adjust its military posture in the region,’ the ministry said.
It did not specify exactly how many US troops will be pulled out from the country.
Romania and Nato in general have attempted to downplay the move.
Defence minister Ionut Mosteanu told a press briefing that the decision is not a ‘withdrawal.’
He said it was the ‘cessation of the rotation of a brigade that had elements in several Nato countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
Meanwhile, Polish defence minister Kosiniak-Kamysz said that he has not received information from US about reducing military contingent in Poland.
The announcement from Romania comes at a time when the continent is at a crossroads with its air defences amid repeated Russian incursions in recent months.
Earlier in October, alliance forces shot down a mystery drone near a base used by US troops in Estonia, less than 30 miles from the Russian border.
Three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland and remained for around 12 minutes last month.
Romania has also suffered multiple violations of its airspace in the past three years, with the latest on September 13.
Bolstering troop levels and command capabilities around the Black Sea has become a priority in the aftermath of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
When Metro travelled to Smârdan, Nato’s Romanian military base earlier this year, it was to witness Steadfast Dart, the first large-scale
deployment of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), designed to protect the eastern flank.
This was by far the most intense land, sea and air exercise that the alliance unravelled in 2025 – but US forces were not participating, an elephant in the room that Nato officials refused to address.
US military power has helped protect Europe for the past 75 years, but its priorities changed after Donald Trump reentered the White House.
His administration has repeatedly demanded that allies dramatically ramp up military spending
Earlier this year, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that the security priorities lie not with Nato, casting doubts on the longstanding guarantees provided to Europe.
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