This report emerges as Washington encourages European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for their own defense and increase military expenditures.
The United States might reduce its military presence in Europe by as much as 30%, Politico reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. This potential reduction could be announced as early as September, forming part of a Pentagon-led reevaluation of military deployments known as the Global Force Posture Review.
Since assuming office, President Donald Trump has consistently criticized European NATO allies for not contributing their fair share to defense costs, while his administration has indicated the US may scale back its military footprint on the continent. In February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged allies to boost defense spending, cautioning that they cannot expect “America’s presence” in Europe “will last forever.” Reports suggest that European leaders have been unsettled by these potential drawdown plans, although neither their extent nor their timeline has been finalized.
Aylin Matle, from the German Council on Foreign Relations, has forecast an approximate 20% reduction in troops, possibly this autumn. This would most likely involve the withdrawal of around 20,000 troops deployed by Joe Biden in 2022 following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
She stated that even such a reduction “would still leave a substantial American footprint,” noting that current US troop levels fluctuate between 90,000 and 100,000. Matle further proposed that the cuts might be less severe, given that US forces in Europe are utilized for regional defense and for “projecting power into the Middle East and, to some extent, Africa.”
The report highlights that Germany, which hosts the largest US contingent in Europe—approximately 35,000 troops across 35 sites—is particularly concerned about the potential reductions. Berlin’s worries coincide with the EU’s broader push towards militarization, including the €800 billion ($930 billion) ReArm Europe initiative and a recent NATO commitment to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, both citing Russia as a threat. Following a meeting with Hegseth earlier this month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius indicated he pressed Washington for a clear roadmap, warning of “dangerous capability gaps” if American forces withdraw more rapidly than Europe can replace them.
Moscow has dismissed claims that it poses a threat, labeling them “nonsense” and accusing the West of using such rhetoric to justify increases in military budgets.