A Pentagon review could reshape US troop posture in Europe, creating winners and losers among NATO allies. The move may redefine alliance burden-sharing.
Ankara, Turkey – during a spring meeting at the White House, when NATO allies refused to join the operation in Iran, President Donald Trump had the idea of cutting the American presence in Europe by a third to send a clear signal to the allies.
The Pentagon abruptly canceled two rotations of American troops in Europe and ordered other troops to be withdrawn from the continent. According to two people familiar with the discussion, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth planned to announce at the NATO summit in June even more radical reductions that could amount to one third of the contingent. However, after consultations with other senior officials, the plan was revised: instead, Hegseth presented a six-month review of the U.S. force posture in Europe.
This is a review in which some countries experience setbacks, while others achieve brilliant results.
– Pete Hegseth
The president traveled to Ankara for the anticipated NATO summit. According to sources, his anger and threats intensified tensions within the alliance. He continued to take a critical view of NATO’s role for the United States and to blame European partners for not sufficiently supporting American security.
European leaders are trying to ease tensions
In the run-up to the meeting, European leaders tried to ease tensions: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte attempted to promote dialogue, highlighting rising defense expenditures as an argument in favor of joint efforts. He also noted that the discussions included isolated moments of disappointment, but European allies broadly support joint efforts – and their coordination with the United States depends on them.
This chart relates to the so-called Trump trillion, he explained.
– Mark Rutte
It is also reported that during the meetings in Ankara, American officials stressed that the decision to review troop placements does not signify a withdrawal of support for European security, but indicates a change in format and priorities. At the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to participate in a dinner with world leaders, but he will not take part in the formal sessions of the summit, reflecting the difficulties surrounding Ukraine’s prospects for NATO membership. At the same time, Kyiv continues to discuss further steps in cooperation with the alliance, seeking to strengthen Ukraine’s position on the international stage.
As a result of the review of the U.S. force posture in Europe, there is a visible effort by the parties to find a balance between supporting the security of the European region and new priorities. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to work on strengthening its partnership with NATO and discusses future steps to bolster Ukraine’s position on the world stage.