The United States may cut its troop presence in Europe by up to 30% as part of a broader reassessment of its global military posture, a senior NATO source told Politico.
Currently, between 90,000 and 100,000 American troops are stationed across Europe — around 20,000 of whom were deployed under President Joe Biden following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Germany hosts the largest US contingent, about 35,000 troops, primarily at the Ramstein Air Base, the main hub for US air operations in Europe, the Grafenwöhr training area, and the US Army Europe and Africa headquarters in Wiesbaden.
US bases in Europe serve not only European security but also American global interests.
“Installations like Ramstein are designed not only to defend Europe but to project power into the Middle East and parts of Africa,” said Aylin Matlé, senior fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations.
Politico reports that any troop withdrawal would likely come after the Pentagon releases its Global Posture Review this September. The reassessment will reflect shifting US priorities, especially the push to strengthen its military footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.
Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled possible cuts, stressing the US “cannot be the sole guarantor of Europe’s security” and urged European allies to boost defense spending.
In June, all NATO members agreed to raise defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035. Germany, for example, plans to increase its defense budget from €86 billion today to €153 billion by 2029.
