The Pentagon has announced a six-month review of US troop levels in Europe, signaling a shift toward reducing its military footprint and encouraging European allies to assume greater responsibility within NATO.
US Defense Secretary Announces Cuts
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed counterparts in Brussels that the US will scale back assets such as fighter jets, reconnaissance drones, and warships earmarked for European crises. According to the Washington Post, diplomats indicated that approximately one-third of fighter jets and other wartime forces will be withdrawn, creating gaps that NATO members must now fill.
NATO's Founding and Current Role
NATO was established to block Soviet expansion in Europe, prevent the resurgence of nationalist militarism, and encourage European political integration. Original members included Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK, and the US. The alliance has no standing army but relies on collective military action by member states during international crises.
Clarifications from NATO Secretary General
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte clarified that the cuts affect US emergency response contributions, not the existing troop presence, which still numbers in the tens of thousands alongside nuclear deployments. Eastern European leaders continue to emphasize NATO's importance against Russian aggression, while Washington urges allies to move beyond what Hegseth criticized as “demilitarisation.” European capitals had anticipated a drawdown but sought clarity after delays in a Pentagon posture review and mixed signals from President Trump, including talk of a 5,000-troop withdrawal from Germany. The review underscores NATO's evolving balance of responsibility.
Current US Military Presence in Europe
The US maintains the Sixth Fleet in Italy, the Third Air Force, and US Army Europe co-located in Germany. Many elements of these formations have been forward deployed to West Asia. The US has recently used its bases in the UK to strike targets in Iran.
The United States currently has at least 75,000 troops across Europe, reporting to the United States European Command (EUCOM) in Stuttgart, Germany. At its peak in the 1950s, around 475,000 American troops were stationed in Europe. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the largest contingent of US troops is in Germany with over 38,000 troops, followed by Italy with over 12,000, the UK with over 10,000, and Poland with over 10,000. DW reports that under NATO's nuclear sharing agreement, the US is believed to keep around 100 nuclear weapons at Büchel Airbase in Germany.
US Contributions Beyond Troop Numbers
The core of what the United States provides is not simply volume but integration capacity, including intelligence architecture, satellite communications, and precision strike capability. Europe was never asked to develop this technology because America developed it for them.
European NATO air forces are modernising with growing fleets of fifth-generation aircraft, but their ability to suppress or destroy advanced air-defence systems remains limited. Shortfalls in electronic warfare, munitions depth, and integration mean that without US support, degrading Russian defences would be slower and riskier. Air superiority would emerge only through attrition, localised and sporadic, leaving ground forces exposed.
