The position of Berlin after the US withdrew part of its soldiers from Romania. What German government officials said when questioned by journalists

Plans to reduce the American military contingent in Romania are not unusual, the Berlin government reacted on Wednesday after the US decision, through the voice of the spokesman of the German Ministry of Defense, Colonel Mitko Müller, who stated that this demonstrates the confidence of the Washington administration in Europe's defense capabilities, write the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform and the German press.

“In general, we can say that after the start of the Russian aggression (in Ukraine, no), the US has strengthened its presence on the eastern flank with several combat brigades, and now adjustments are being made, as announced by NATO. At recent summits and meetings of defense ministers, the US has repeatedly emphasized how much it trusts its European military partners and allies,” said Mitko Müller, during a press conference.

As an example, he cited the deployment of a German combat brigade in Lithuania, which will be further strengthened over the next two years. This also proves, according to the representative of the German Ministry of Defence, that the European allies are capable of assuming a greater role on the eastern flank.

“As NATO recently commented, the situation is not unusual, this troop movement is an adaptation of the US force structure,” the spokesman noted.

At the same time, he conveyed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin plays a key role in the presence of foreign troops in Germany.

The deputy spokesman of the Federal Government in Berlin, Steffen Maier, added, for his part, in the same press conference, that such plans “do not refer to the permanent American presence in Germany.”

“It is important for us to continue to secure Germany's defense capabilities,” he said.

As for Romania, the withdrawal of American troops from this country “was to be expected, since their presence there was not meant to be permanent anyway”, Mayer also stated.

Ukrinform notes that the Romanian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that a number of allied NATO states have been informed about US plans to reduce the number of troops deployed on the eastern flank of Europe, including from the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania.

What exactly Steffen Meyer and Mitko Müller said in the joint press conference

Question: For Colonel Müller: The Romanian Ministry of Defense announced that the US has decided to withdraw part of its troops from Romania. Has the German Federal Ministry of Defense received a similar notification from the US regarding a planned reduction or adjustment of the US troop presence in Germany? How do you evaluate the announcement of the Romanian Ministry of Defense regarding the withdrawal of American troops from Romania?

Mayer: I would like to begin, if I may, by stating that I have taken note of this announcement. Downsizing (of US troops) in Romania was to be expected, as this presence was not meant to be permanent anyway. I would like to emphasize that this does not affect US troops stationed in Germany. It is important for us to continue to strengthen Germany's defense capabilities and the European pillars of NATO. Like I said, this was an announcement I was waiting for.

Müller: I would like to add something. NATO commented on this a few hours ago, stressing that this process is not unusual and that this withdrawal of troops is an adjustment of the «posture of US forces».

Overall, it can be said that the US armed forces were reinforced with several combat brigades on the eastern flank after the start of the Russian offensive (from Ukraine, no). Now, as NATO describes, an adjustment is being made. At recent major summits and meetings of defense ministers, the US military has increasingly expressed its confidence in European troops and European allies. For example, by deploying a combat brigade to Lithuania, which is ongoing and will continue to grow over the next two years, we have demonstrated that European allies on the eastern flank are also capable of much more. And the eastern allies are doing this more and more. Therefore, as NATO says, this is not unusual.

Follow-up question, for Meyer or Müller: How exactly is the US government discussing this “force posture review” with the German federal government? We believe that no one in the public sphere has any real indication or idea of ​​what the future holds in this regard. Do you know anything more about this?

Müller: First, there is a NATO defense planning process that determines what capabilities and troop configurations the alliance needs in the event of a crisis. This process involves a wide range of threats in a 360-degree approach, but of course also the main threat on the eastern flank. Based on this process, member states and NATO then develop appropriate plans. As you know, this year we had NATO's capability requirements, which were agreed upon by troop-contributing countries and allies. Based on this, there are of course consultations at different levels, for example – I can only speak on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Defense – at meetings of defense ministers and at working levels where these issues are discussed. However, the main focus is on the Federal Foreign Office (of Germany, no), as the presence of foreign armed forces in Germany is primarily managed there.

The announcements made by the Pentagon and MApN

On Wednesday morning, the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) announced that Romania and NATO allied countries were informed of the United States' decision regarding the “resizing” of American troops in Europe. According to MApN, “approximately one thousand American soldiers will remain deployed” in Romania.

“The decision was expected, Romania being in permanent contact with the American strategic partner. The resizing of the US forces is an effect of the new priorities of the presidential administration, announced as early as February. The decision also took into account the fact that NATO has strengthened its presence and activity on the Eastern Flank, which allows the United States to adjust its military posture in the region”, MApN said.

The announcement came after the Ukrainian publication Kyiv Post wrote, citing American and European sources, that the Donald Trump Administration is about to withdraw “thousands of American soldiers” from Romania.

Now, there are approximately 2,000 United States soldiers in Romania, of which approximately 1,700 are at Mihail Kogălniceanu Base. At Deveselu, where the Aegis Ashore anti-missile shield is operating, there are currently about 200 American soldiers and over 100 at Turzii Plain, according to HotNews information.

Later, the Minister of Defense, Ionuț Moșteanu, held a press conference in which he said that “we are not talking about a withdrawal of American forces, but about stopping the rotation of a brigade that had elements in several NATO states: Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania”.

The Pentagon (American Department of Defense or War Department) also conveyed that the reduction of the military presence in Romania “does not represent America's withdrawal from Europe”, adding that, on the contrary, it is a “positive sign of the increase in European capacity”.

“As part of the Secretary of War's deliberate process to ensure a balanced posture of U.S. military forces, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will retire as scheduled to its base unit in Kentucky without being replaced,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command said.

The brigade of the legendary 101st Airborne Division began its rotation in the spring in Romania for nine months, after they also performed a rotation here in 2022. Now no more American soldiers will come in their place. “This does not represent an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of diminishing commitment to NATO and Article 5. On the contrary, it is a positive sign of increased European capacity and responsibility,” the Pentagon added in a brief press release.