Media: U.S. may withdraw 25,000 troops from Europe
The Pentagon is studying the possibility of withdrawing about 25,000 American troops from European countries.
That amounts to roughly a third of the entire U.S. contingent stationed in the EU, NBC News reports, citing current and former American as well as Western officials.
The outlet reports that U.S. authorities are also considering a larger-scale scenario — cutting the military presence by about half, to 40,000 troops. The plan may also include the return of American aircraft, ships, and weapons from Europe. The cuts would affect forces in Germany, Italy, and Spain, where the main U.S. military contingent is stationed.
The head of U.S. European Command, General Alexus Grynkewich, intends to present an analysis of the situation to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on September 18. Final recommendations will be drawn up on November 6 and submitted to the head of the White House. For now, no decision on the withdrawal of troops has been made.
Currently there are about 80,000 American troops in the European Union. Reducing their number by 25,000 would be the largest withdrawal of military forces from the EU since the end of the Cold War in the 1990s.
