Pentagon prepares new military realignment in Europe

(Patria) – Plans by the United States to accelerate the reduction of its military presence in Europe have caused concern among NATO allies, particularly on the Alliance's eastern flank, where questions are being raised about how much European countries could independently take over some of the defence obligations that have relied on American support for decades.

According to the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, citing sources from the Pentagon, Washington is preparing plans that foresee an accelerated withdrawal of part of the American forces from European bases, and the details are expected to be presented to allies during upcoming NATO meetings.

This is a continuation of the policy of President Donald Trump's administration, which has long insisted that European NATO members take on a greater share of the financial and military burden for the continent's security.

American officials state that the goal is to enable a "faster and more efficient transition towards European defence," while the United States would focus more on challenges in the Indo-Pacific and countering China.

According to information so far, the Pentagon has already halted certain planned troop rotations to Poland and announced the withdrawal of about 5,000 soldiers from Germany, while the US president has not ruled out the possibility of additional reductions.

At the same time, American plans are not limited to troop numbers. According to reports from several media outlets, consideration is also being given to reducing the capabilities that the US would make available to NATO in the event of a crisis, including strategic bombers, warships, aerial refuelling aircraft, and certain reconnaissance systems.

Military and security analysts warn that such a move could weaken NATO's rapid response capability, especially in the Baltic region and along the Alliance's eastern flank, where the American military presence is considered a key deterrent factor against potential threats from Russia. At the same time, within NATO there are assessments that European forces still lack all the necessary capabilities to fully implement existing defence plans independently without significant American support.

According to available data, approximately 85,000 American soldiers are currently deployed in Europe, and the coming months could show how deep the changes in the American military engagement on the European continent will be.