NATO: Reduced US Military Presence in Europe an ‘Adjustment’

NATO said Wednesday it had been informed in advance of US plans to reduce some of its troops deployed on the alliance’s eastern flank, describing the move as an “adjustment” and nothing “unusual.”

“Adjustments to US force posture are not unusual,” the NATO official said, adding that “even with this adjustment, the US force posture in Europe remains larger than it has been for many years.”

Washington’s commitment to the alliance remained “clear,” he said.

“NATO and US authorities are in close contact about our overall posture – to ensure NATO retains our robust capacity to deter and defend, and the US authorities informed NATO of this adjustment in advance,” the official said.

Despite worries on NATO’s eastern flank about the potential scaling back of the United States’ presence in the region at a time when Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump said in September that Washington could increase its troop presence in Poland.