The US may withdraw 20,000 troops from Europe

^{Photo: AFP}
The Donald Trump administration may withdraw 20,000 troops from Europe that were additionally sent by former President Joe Biden. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing sources.

In January, an unnamed European diplomat provided similar information. In mid-February, the former US ambassador to NATO, Julie Smith, also spoke about the possibility of withdrawing 20,000 American troops.

On February 14, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin urged not to think that "America's (involvement in Europe) will last forever" during the Munich Security Conference. Nevertheless, he emphasized the importance of the level of European troops on the continent.

According to The New York Times, after a meeting with Austin, EU officials began to expect that tens of thousands of US troops would leave Europe. European leaders want to ensure that if the reduction of the American contingent actually occurs, it will not be the result of negotiations between Washington and Moscow.

Trump's attempts to get closer to Russia are causing concern among European countries. They fear that Washington may accept Moscow's demand to force NATO to withdraw from Eastern Europe, leaving neighboring countries vulnerable. This could happen before Europe has a chance to strengthen its own defense.

The number of US troops in Europe has increased from 75,000 to 105,000 since 2022, with nearly 63,000 permanently stationed in the region. The largest number is concentrated in Germany (almost 35,000).

From 1950 to 1990, the number of US troops in Europe exceeded 200,000 to 400,000. American military bases are located in Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, the Baltic States, and other European countries.