US confirms no significant withdrawal of troops from Europe, signaling continued commitment to NATO allies.
US Soldiers Will Remain “Visible” in Europe
US command and authorities have informed European leaders that no significant reduction in the number of American soldiers in Europe should be expected in the near future, reported Politico, citing sources in Washington and NATO. The report noted that for over a year, since Donald Trump became US president, allied countries have begun to fear the withdrawal of thousands of American soldiers stationed there. In this way, Washington – Politico pointed out – would like to mobilize NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
“We will still be visible,” said US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. “The US administration has realized that a stable Europe is important for us, and the signals we are receiving do not indicate that there will be a major withdrawal, not now,” said one of the Alliance’s commanders, whose words Politico cited. He admitted that NATO “has received mixed signals” and recalled the withdrawal of Americans from Romania.
Romania on Withdrawal of American Soldiers
On October 29, Romania’s Ministry of National Defense informed that Bucharest and its allies received information about the US decision on the redeployment of American troops in Europe. This means the withdrawal of American soldiers from the Mihail Kogalniceanu base in eastern Romania, on the Black Sea. Romania emphasized that approximately 1,000 American soldiers will remain in the country, which will help “deter any threats and continue to guarantee US engagement in the security of the region.”
Pole to Head NATO Joint Command
The Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Wiesław Kukuła, announced that for the first time in history, an officer of the Polish Army, a four-star general, will head the NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFC Brunssum). He added that this is a sign of trust in the Polish Armed Forces and Poland’s defense efforts. General Kukuła did not name the nominated Pole. However, besides General Wiesław Kukuła, the only active four-star general is Sławomir Wojciechowski. Since July 2022, he has been the Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee and the EU Military Committee. He also commanded the “North-East” Corps in Szczecin. Poland and Germany will rotate command of JFC Brunssum. This is part of NATO changes aimed at taking on greater responsibility for security in the region by European allies. Personnel changes will take effect in the coming years, in accordance with the rotation in force.
