The US re-sizes its presence on the eastern flank
Some of the American troops are leaving Romania.
Ştefan Stoica, 30.10.2025, 14:00
Announced since the beginning of the year, the resizing of part of the American troops deployed on NATO’s eastern flank is becoming a reality and involves Romania. According to the Defense Ministry, this involves the cessation of the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several member states, including Romania, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base, near the Black Sea.
Minister Ionut Moşteanu: “We are not talking about a withdrawal of the American forces, but about stopping the rotation of a brigade that had elements in several NATO states and in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia or Hungary. Approximately 1,000 American soldiers will continue to be deployed in Romania, contributing to the deterrence of any threats. Strategic capabilities remain unchanged, the missile defense system at Deveselu maintains its full operability. The Câmpia Turzii air base continues to be an essential point for air operations and allied collaboration. The Mihail Kogălniceanu base continues to be developed. The American flag will be in all these 3 points. An air battle group will continue to remain at the Kogălniceanu base.”
This military resizing will not affect in any way the security of Romania and the eastern flank of the Alliance, President Nicuşor Dan also assured. He mentioned that the Romanian-American strategic partnership remained within the same parameters, and the strategic infrastructure developed together in Deveselu, Câmpia Turzii and Kogălniceanu will continue to be fully operational. President Dan emphasized that the deterrence of threats on the eastern flank of the Alliance is compensated by the consistent supplementation of military equipment and the increase in the presence of European forces in full agreement with the American partner.
For its part, the Pentagon insisted that this is not a withdrawal from Europe or a signal of a weakening of the United States’ commitment to NATO and Article 5 on collective defense. In turn, the US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, states that his country maintains its commitments to Romania, which he said demonstrates increased capacity and responsibility.
However, the Pentagon’s decision was criticized in Washington by the Republican heads of the Senate and House defense committees. They signed a joint statement arguing that the decision sends a wrong signal to Russia at a time when President Trump is pressuring the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to negotiate a lasting peace in Ukraine. NATO officials say the adjustments in U.S. forces are not unusual and that the American posture in Europe remains much higher than it has been in recent years. (LS)
