The US continues the withdrawal of troops from Eastern Europe: the countries from which another 3,000 soldiers leave, after Romania

Officials of the Trump administration have conveyed to allies that the reductions in American forces in Romania represent only the first stage of a wider adjustment, which will continue in Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia from mid-December itself, Kyiv Post notes. Stars and Stripes reports that a total of about 3,000 US troops are to be withdrawn from these four states.

American troops continue their withdrawal PHOTO AFP

The Kyiv Post notes that the Trump administration is testing transatlantic patience by quietly sending a warning to several European capitals about its troop reduction plan in Eastern Europe, which has already provoked critical reactions in the US Congress and raised questions about Washington's long-term commitment to NATO's eastern flank.

Sources close to the discussions with the European partners claim that the adjustment planned for Romania is only the first phase, and further reductions in Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia are anticipated for December. NATO diplomats are wondering how the changes will affect deterrence on the alliance's most exposed frontier.

Two Western officials cited by the source explained that the Pentagon considers the moderate cuts appropriate, in part because European ground forces are better prepared than in the past. Allies have been informed that the adjustments will likely continue next year once the current rotations end. A US diplomatic document described the planned cuts as “marginal”.

To assuage concerns, US officials stressed that the US troop presence in Poland and the Baltic states would remain unchanged. They highlighted these states' robust defense spending and close cooperation with US forces, reaffirming Washington's commitment to NATO.

Reactions in the US Congress

The announcement drew strong criticism in Congress from both Republicans and Democrats.

Congressman Mike Turner, head of the US delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said:
“As the head of the US delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I am concerned by reports of the drawdown of US troops in Romania. We need a robust and firm US presence in Europe, especially in the context of continued Russian aggression.” Turner cited Russian air incursions into the space of countries on the eastern flank as evidence of Moscow's expansive ambitions.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the cuts represent “a deeply flawed move that undermines US efforts to pressure Putin and strengthen the defense capacity of European partners.” She pointed out Romania right “a model ally” which hosts US military and allocates 5% of GDP to defense.
“This decision sends the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin as he continues his bloody campaign in Ukraine and tests NATO. The withdrawal of US troops from Romania directly undermines recent pressure efforts on Putin.”Shaheen warned.

The senator also suggested that the troop reduction would have been decided without full consultation with the White House, the National Security Council or Congress and asked for clarification on the United States' commitment to allies such as Romania.

An American diplomat's point of view

Daniel Fried, a former assistant secretary of state and one of the architects of US policy in post-Cold War Eastern Europe, told the Kyiv Post that the move is rather “a bureaucratic compromise” than a major strategic retreat.
“There is a debate within the Trump administration about the global deployment of forces. The troop reduction is a mistake symbolically because it sends the wrong signal to Putin as Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine and NATO.”Fried said.

However, Fried emphasized that these reductions are limited and largely symbolic: “The numbers are so small that they won't change the military balance, but the signal is negative.”
The former diplomat ended on a cautiously optimistic note: “If these withdrawals turn out to be only symbolic, not a major reduction, that's not a disaster, but it's not a good thing either.”