High-Ranking Officials in US Defense Ministry Review Plan for Withdrawal of up to 10,000 Soldiers from Eastern Europe, Reports NBC News
According to six US and European officials familiar with the matter, reported by NBC News, high-ranking officials in the US Defense Ministry are reviewing a proposal to withdraw up to 10,000 soldiers from Eastern Europe.
The troops in question are part of a 20,000-strong contingent sent to Romania and Poland in 2022 by then-US President Joe Biden. The numbers are still being discussed, according to the report.
The officials, who wished to remain anonymous, allegedly shared numerous details about the proposal with NBC News that were previously unknown.
In mid-March, retired General Ben Hodges, former Commander of the US Land Forces in Europe, stated that the withdrawal of US troops is a matter of time. The Pentagon currently finances 100,000 soldiers in Europe through three programs, the regular budget, the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) and special funds for Ukraine, he said in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick.
“These special funds are running out. Without new funds, probably 10,000 US soldiers would have to be withdrawn from Europe” he added.
As the Financial Times reported in February, several European government officials expect US troops to be withdrawn from Europe as part of an agreement with Russia on the Ukraine conflict. Some even fear that President Donald Trump might withdraw all soldiers from Eastern Europe, it was said.
Dmitri Peskow, the spokesperson for the Russian President, subsequently announced that Moscow had not demanded the withdrawal of NATO troops from Eastern Europe during the Ukraine talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth assured that the US currently has no plans to reduce its military presence in Europe.