The Trump administration’s withdrawal of European troops fuels concern among NATO allies and even draws criticism from Republicans

NATO and some of America’s allies in the transatlantic alliance have sought to allay concerns over the Trump administration’s decision to reduce the US military presence in Europe amid Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine and as it stands accused of escalating hybrid warfare against NATO countries.

The Pentagon announced Thursday that it was reducing the number of American troops deployed in Eastern Europe. U.S. officials told CBS News that about 700 U.S. airborne troops deployed to Germany, Romania and Poland would return home and not be replaced.

In a statement, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said it was part of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s “deliberate process to ensure a balanced United States military posture,” and “not a U.S. withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lesser commitment to NATO and Article 5. Rather, it is a positive sign of increased European capability and responsibility.”

“OUR NATO Allies “This force posture adjustment will not change the security environment in Europe,” the military said.

NATO and its allies underline “continued US commitment” to Europe

On Thursday, appearing to allay those concerns, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in a statement that the United States had “made an important decision to maintain its military presence in Estonia, reaffirming the United States’ continued commitment to the defense of the region and the entire eastern flank of NATO.”

“We are working to further strengthen the American military presence in our region,” he added.

In September, Estonia said Russian military aircraft had violated the country’s airspace for 12 minutesjust days after Poland said more than 20 Russian drones entered its airspace. This week, Lithuania closed its border with Belarus, a close ally of Russia, after accusing the two countries of “deliberate escalation of hybrid warfare“.

NATO says deterrence measures along its eastern flank have been “massively strengthened” over the past decade “as a direct result of Russia’s behavior.” This border extends from the Arctic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.

The reinforcements include U.S. troops, but the Trump administration has pushed its European NATO allies to take more responsibility — and shoulder a greater share of the financial burden — for their own security, announcing earlier this year that it would make the Indo-Pacific a foreign policy priority, rather than Europe, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“The decision was expected,” the Romanian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, referring to the announcement of the reduction of American troops.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in a social media post that America’s partnership with Romania “remains stronger than ever”, and reiterated the Pentagon’s message that it was a response to the increased capabilities of European forces.

These assurances have not quieted debate over whether the move could be just the start of a broader U.S. withdrawal from Europe. Ukraine’s Kyiv Post newspaper reported Friday that further US troop reductions were expected, with troops withdrawing from Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary by the end of the year.

There was no immediate public reaction to the report, from the Pentagon or the Trump administration.

NATO has also sought to allay concerns, with a senior alliance military official telling CBS News on Thursday that, “even with this adjustment, U.S. force posture in Europe remains more important than it has been in many years.”

“The American commitment to NATO is clear,” the official said. “President Trump and his administration have said this time and time again. NATO has robust defense plans in place and we are working to ensure we maintain the appropriate forces and capabilities to deter and defend each other.”

Concern in Washington, on both sides of the aisle

The announcement sparked bipartisan criticism in Washington, with some senior lawmakers warning that it could embolden Russia and undermine the NATO alliance.

In a joint statement released Thursday by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, the chairmen of that committee and the corresponding Senate body, both Republicans, said they strongly oppose the change in the U.S. deployment in Romania, which they said “appears uncoordinated and directly at odds with the President’s strategy.”

Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Mike Rogers also indicated in the statement that they believe the Pentagon could further reduce the U.S. deployment in Europe.

“We strongly oppose the decision not to keep the U.S. brigade rotating in Romania and the Pentagon’s ongoing review process of its force posture, which could result in further withdrawals of U.S. forces from Eastern Europe,” the Republican lawmakers said.

“On March 19, we stated that we would not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that were made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and collaboration with Congress,” Wicker and Rogers said. “Unfortunately, this appears to be exactly what is being attempted.”

On Thursday, Congressman Mike Turner, also a Republican and head of the American delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said he was “concerned by reports of reductions in American forces in Romania.”

“Congress has made clear that the posture of U.S. forces across Europe must remain robust and resolute. Russia’s aggressive actions against countries on the eastern flank, through intentional airspace incursions, underscore Russia’s ambition beyond Ukraine,” Turner said. “It is in our national security interests to support our NATO allies as they rightly increase their investments in their defense capabilities.”

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the decision to reduce the U.S. presence in the region “profoundly wrong” in a statement released Thursday.

“This decision sends exactly the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin as he continues his murderous campaign in Ukraine and tests NATO’s resolve with provocations against other front-line states,” she said.