European NATO members are holding closed-door discussions on the future of the American military presence in Europe. There is growing confidence among allies that U.S. President Donald Trump will decide to reduce the approximately 80,000 American troops currently stationed across the continent and redirect them to Asia and the Middle East, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Euractiv.
In response, NATO military planners are examining three crucial aspects: the number of U.S. troops that may be withdrawn, how abruptly the drawdown might take place, and whether European forces are capable of replacing the departing American troops. One NATO diplomat emphasized that the issue is not whether U.S. forces will leave, but how orderly the process can be carried out without endangering the Alliance’s current defense plans.
Last year, NATO revised its strategic defense plans, outlining how the Alliance would respond to any potential attack. These strategies rely heavily on U.S. military assets — including advanced weaponry, air power, and tens of thousands of troops. A sudden reduction in American support could put the operational readiness of these plans at risk.
Particular concern is emerging among countries located on NATO’s eastern flank. Some of these nations have informally urged NATO to accelerate the revision of its defense plans to ensure they are prepared for a potential significant reduction in U.S. involvement in European security.
The expected troop withdrawal is likely to significantly affect major U.S. military bases in Germany and Italy, which have long served as strategic hubs for American operations in Europe. Defense officials across the region acknowledge that while European forces are increasingly combat-ready, they still lack the advanced capabilities needed to fully replace the U.S. military presence — especially in areas like air operations, logistics, and satellite systems.
Ahead of the NATO summit, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that the Pentagon’s assessment of American troop deployments in Europe is expected to be finalized by late summer or early autumn. As of now, European allies have received no official communication from Washington regarding any forthcoming repositioning — a fact confirmed by several European NATO diplomats.
Earlier we wrote that Trump promises NATO protection.