EU Prepares for Possible U.S. Troop Withdrawal or Reduction in Europe

European NATO allies have begun preparing for a possible reduction or withdrawal of U.S. troops from the continent.

According to Euractiv, there is a growing belief in Europe that U.S. President Donald Trump may scale back the current deployment of approximately 80,000 American service members and shift focus toward Asia and the Middle East.

“The question isn’t whether U.S. troop reductions will happen,” said one NATO diplomat, “but how orderly the process can be without jeopardizing the alliance’s existing defense plans.”

The NATO’s eastern flank is particularly concerned about a sudden U.S. withdrawal, which would likely trigger immediate requests for reinforcements from other allies.

Several of these countries have privately urged NATO to accelerate discussions on revising its defense plans, according to the publication.

The anticipated U.S. troop withdrawal is also expected to impact key American military bases in Germany and Italy, which have long served as hubs for supporting forward military operations.

U.S. Ambassador to the Alliance Matthew Whitaker stated ahead of the NATO summit that the Pentagon’s review of American troop deployments in Europe was expected to be “completed by late summer or early fall.”

According to him, any changes will be made “in close coordination with NATO allies to ensure there are no gaps in security or defense capabilities,” and any withdrawn U.S. units could be replaced by allied forces.

However, European allies have yet to receive any official communication from U.S. officials regarding Washington’s upcoming posture review.

As a result, there are concerns within European defense circles about the possibility of rushed decisions by the White House without proper discution with allies.