US NATO envoy denies reports of massive troop pullout from Europe

At a defence briefing in Brussels, US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker dismissed recent media stories that the United States intends to pull 25,000 to 40,000 soldiers out of Europe. He clarified that the defence secretariat has not yet formalised any such plan and that the reports are inaccurate. The US did launch a review in late July to reassess its European force posture by year-end, aiming to ensure NATO moves toward a Europe that assumes primary responsibility for its conventional defence.

Whitaker reiterated that the United States remains fully engaged in the region, while also questioning the strategic value of current base arrangements. He noted that adjustments have already begun, including troop reductions in Germany, and that the review will also examine base access for US forces. European allies have expressed concern that a drastic cut could weaken NATO’s deterrence against Russia.