On April 8, according to some sources collected by NBC News, the US is considering withdrawing about 10,000 soldiers from Eastern Europe, in the context of US President Donald Trump conducting negotiations with Russia to reach a peace deal for Ukraine.
Since 2022, then-US President Joe Biden has deployed 20,000 soldiers to Europe after the Ukraine conflict escalated. According to the US European Command, there are currently about 84,000 US soldiers stationed in Europe, mostly in Germany and Poland, along with a number of smaller forces in Romania, Estonia and Lithuania.
Although the number of troops withdrawn is considered to account for only about 12% of the total force, this plan could still directly affect US units stationed in Romania and Poland - two NATO member states located close to the Russian border.
The move has prompted some European officials to worry about the US may be gradually reducing its commitment to protect NATO from threats from Russia. Former senior Pentagon official Seth Jones said that cutting down on troops would undermine the US military posture in Europe and increase Russia's "readiness to intervene in various forms".
Information about the withdrawal plan comes as the Trump administration continues to pressure NATO members in Europe to shoulder much of their defense responsibilities, including increasing military spending.
In an interview with AFP, a NATO diplomat acknowledged that the US role in the alliance may decline in the coming time, but still expressed his hope that Washington will maintain the highest possible level of influence.
Meanwhile, some NATO officials say that if the US really plans to reduce its military presence in Europe, Washington needs to announce a clear schedule for its allies to proactively prepare.
Concerns are growing as the US is engaged in dialogues with Russia to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine and restore bilateral relations that had fallen to record lows under President Biden.
President Trump has said that NATO's expansion and the Biden administration's approach to Ukraine are one of the reasons for the conflict with Russia.
Moscow has similar views, welcoming Washington's readiness to discuss the "root" of the Ukrainian conflict, including Kiev's aspirations to join NATO - which has long been viewed as a "red line" with Russia.
