Pentagon is considering withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, raising concerns among allies - report
Kyiv • UNN
The Pentagon is considering withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe. This raises concerns that the US is abandoning allies amid the threat from the Russian Federation.
The Pentagon is considering a proposal to reduce up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, raising concerns among US European allies. This was reported by NBC News, writes UNN.
Details
According to the media, according to six American and European officials, senior officials of the US Department of Defense are considering a proposal to withdraw up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, which raises concerns on both continents that this will embolden Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
The units under consideration are part of the 20,000 that the Biden administration deployed in 2022 to strengthen the defense of countries bordering Ukraine after the Russian invasion. The numbers are still being discussed, but the proposal may include the withdrawal of up to half of the forces sent by Biden, the publication writes.
If the Pentagon approves the proposal, it will fuel fears that the United States is abandoning its long-time allies in Europe, who see Russia as a growing threat, European officials said.
The Russians "would see the reduction in the number of American troops as a weakening of deterrence, and this will increase their willingness to interfere in European affairs in various ways across the spectrum," said Seth Jones, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Trump administration has previously stated that it wants European allies to take more responsibility for their defense, which would allow the US to focus on China. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that harsh strategic realities are forcing the United States to redirect its military resources to South America and Asia, where the threat from China is more relevant.
As indicated, the proposal to reduce military forces in Europe is also supported by Elbridge Colby, the future chief political adviser to the Pentagon, who calls for focusing on China and reducing spending on supporting Europe. However, Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticizes this strategy, stating that such a reduction could be a dangerous and erroneous step.
"I am concerned about these deeply mistaken and dangerous views held by some mid-level bureaucrats in the Department of Defense," Wicker added, without naming officials. - They have been working to achieve the withdrawal of the US from Europe, and have often done so without the approval of the Minister of Defense."
"The President is constantly reviewing troop deployment plans and priorities to ensure that America remains in the first place," said National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes.
As the Pentagon undergoes budget cuts under Trump, reducing the presence of American troops in Europe will free up resources, potentially for the Indo-Pacific region, which administration officials say they see as a higher strategic priority. Reversing the deployment of combat units in Eastern Europe could also save money for the army, which is trying to increase investment in innovative equipment and weapons, the publication writes.