Senior Pentagon officials are considering a proposal to withdraw up to 10,000 US troops from Eastern Europe, NBC News reported on Wednesday, citing six US and European officials familiar with the matter.
The prospect is causing concern in the US and Europe, as it is thought it could embolden Vladimir Putin's Russia. The proposal concerns units from the approximately 20,000 forces that the Biden administration had deployed in 2022, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to bolster the defenses of NATO member states bordering the war-torn country.
Although the numbers have not been finalized, the proposal could lead to the withdrawal of up to half of this force.
Discussions to reduce the US military presence in Poland and Romania are taking place as Donald Trump seeks to persuade Putin to agree to a ceasefire. All the officials, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity, revealed details of the plan that had not been made public until now.
European officials warn that if the Pentagon approves the proposal, fears that the US is abandoning its traditional allies will be reinforced. As they point out, Russia could perceive the reduced presence as a sign of a lack of deterrence, which would strengthen its willingness to intervene in various ways in Europe.
Seth Jones, vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented that "the Russians will view the withdrawal of US forces as a weakening of deterrence and will increase their willingness to intervene in various ways on the European stage . "
The Trump administration has made clear that it wants European allies to take more responsibility for their own defense so the U.S. can shift its military weight to China and other priorities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on his first trip abroad in February, said from Brussels that “harsh strategic realities do not allow the United States to remain committed to Europe’s security.”
"Instead, Washington will focus on securing its borders and confronting China," he added.
At the same time, Elbridge Colby, third in the Pentagon hierarchy, has publicly advocated releasing forces from Europe in order to place emphasis on China.
Republican Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has publicly expressed skepticism about the plan. "Some believe that now is the time to drastically reduce our military presence in Europe," he said at a hearing on Thursday, without naming specific individuals.
"I am concerned by these deeply misleading and dangerous views of some bureaucrats in the Ministry of Defense," he added, accusing them of acting without coordination with the Defense Minister.
The White House, through National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes, stated that "the President is continuously reviewing developments and priorities to ensure that he puts America first . "
The gradual reduction of the US military footprint in Europe is considered to be able to save resources for other priorities, such as the development of new weapons systems and shifting the burden towards Asia. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
