Written by Lisa Murimi |
The United States will reduce its troop presence on NATO’s eastern flank, including soldiers stationed at Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, as Washington shifts focus to its own borders and the Indo-Pacific region, Romania’s defence ministry said Wednesday.
According to the ministry, around 1,000 U.S. troops will remain in Romania, while a rotating brigade of about 1,000 to 1,200 soldiers who left a month ago will not be replaced.
The decision, officials said, reflects evolving American strategic priorities rather than a retreat from NATO commitments.
“The American decision is to stop the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries,” the ministry explained, emphasizing that the remaining U.S. and allied forces—about 3,500 troops—provide “a sufficient and considerable presence.”
Romanian Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu assured that Bucharest’s partnership with Washington remains strong.
“The expectation of having entire foreign armies here to defend us is unrealistic,” he said, adding that Romania will continue investing in its own military capabilities. He also confirmed that Romania had received an advanced air defence system from the U.S. to counter potential drone threats.
However, the move drew criticism in Washington. Senior Republican lawmakers on the Senate and House Armed Services Committees issued a joint statement opposing the decision.
“We strongly oppose the decision not to maintain the rotational U.S. brigade in Romania,” they said, seeking further clarification from the Pentagon.
NATO officials downplayed the development, noting that troop adjustments are common and that the alliance remains “in close contact” over deployment matters. Slovakia’s defence ministry confirmed its own NATO brigade, led by Spain, was unaffected.
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto noted that the U.S. pivot toward the Indo-Pacific “began under President Obama,” highlighting America’s growing focus on competition with China. “Europe must guarantee its own defence,” he said.
Romania, a NATO and EU member sharing a 650-kilometre border with Ukraine, has faced multiple airspace incursions from Russian drones since Moscow’s invasion began. Despite concerns about reduced U.S. presence, the region maintains a strong allied footprint and ongoing security cooperation.
