European governments are bracing for additional U.S. troop reductions on the continent after Washington ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany, according to people familiar with the matter. Allies expect further announcements affecting the U.S. military presence across Europe.
NATO diplomats say U.S. officials are weighing a range of options. Those options include a potential reduction of forces stationed in Italy and the abandonment of plans from the previous U.S. administration to deploy long-range missiles in Germany.
Officials outlined other measures under discussion that go beyond base closures and unit withdrawals. Among these are scaling back U.S. participation in multinational military exercises in Europe and shifting units toward countries perceived as more aligned with the U.S. administration's policy priorities - with Poland cited as a likely destination for redeployments.
Speaking in Italy on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington needs to reassess whether its current troop deployments in Europe remain consistent with U.S. strategic interests. The comment echoed the broader reassessment reportedly underway in Washington about the size, posture and location of U.S. forces on the continent.
Diplomats and officials said the potential moves would highlight growing friction between President Trump and several NATO allies over burden-sharing and foreign policy alignment. Germany and Spain were specifically mentioned as countries where tensions over defense spending and support for U.S. policy in the Middle East have intensified.
The U.S. currently stations roughly 85,000 troops across Europe, a footprint that has been the subject of periodic review and debate. Any significant reallocations or force reductions would alter the distribution of that force presence and could affect future NATO planning and exercises.
Implications and context
The developments under discussion involve both force numbers and the nature of U.S. engagement - from permanent stationing to participation in exercises and missile deployments. Allies are monitoring decisions closely as they evaluate defense commitments and diplomatic relationships.