On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Romanian Minister of Defence Ionuț Moșteanu announced at a press conference the United States’ decision to reduce the number of American troops in Europe, on NATO’s eastern flank. The reductions will affect U.S. personnel stationed at the 57th Air Base in Constanța (Baza 57 Aeriană Mihail Kogălniceanu).
U.S. soldiers in Romania during the Tobruq Legacy 2027 exercise / Photo: U.S. Army
The Romanian Ministry of Defence has been informed by the U.S. side of the planned withdrawal of part of the forces deployed on NATO’s Eastern Flank as part of a process to reassess the global posture of the U.S. Armed Forces. Among the elements of the U.S. Army brigade that will soon end its rotations in Europe are units assigned to Romania, stationed at the 57th Air Base in Constanța.
As the Romanian minister emphasized, this decision was expected, as Bucharest remains in constant contact with its American strategic partner.
The reduction of U.S. forces is the result of new priorities announced in February by President Donald Trump’s administration. The decision also takes into account the fact that NATO has strengthened its presence and activity on the Eastern Flank, allowing the United States to adjust its military posture in the region.
The American decision involves ending the rotation of a brigade in Europe that had detachments in several NATO countries, including Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Hungary. It was emphasized that around one thousand U.S. troops will remain deployed in Romania, contributing to deterrence of potential threats and ensuring the United States’ continued commitment to regional security.
The Romanian defence minister’s statement was immediately addressed by the defence ministers of Italy and Poland.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a television interview with Sky TG24 that the process of shifting U.S. priorities began during the presidency of Barack Obama. “The United States fears competition from China, and Europe must guarantee its own defense,” he said.
Meanwhile, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, during today’s groundbreaking ceremony for a 155 mm artillery ammunition factory in Kraśnik, stated that the American presence in Poland is not at risk.
“There have been reports concerning the situation and presence of American troops in Poland. In February of this year, the Secretary of Defense – now Secretary of War – Pete Hegseth paid his first official visit. I had the opportunity to speak with him for many hours, and publicly in Warsaw he assured us that U.S. troops would remain in Poland. He even said he would like there to be more of them. Later, during further meetings at the Pentagon, I heard the same assurances. Then came President Nawrocki’s visit and his meetings with President Trump, where we again heard commitments regarding the presence – and, as was stated in February in Warsaw – the possibility of increasing the number of U.S. troops. Two weeks ago, in Brussels, during the NATO Defence Ministers’ Summit, I again spoke with the U.S. Secretary of War and once more heard the same assurances. We have not received any information – unlike other countries today, such as Romania – about any reduction of the contingent in Poland. (…) Poland and the United States are ironclad allies. They are allies we can rely on. The United States is the cornerstone of NATO, and there is no NATO without the United States. Anyone who believes that European security can be built in any other way is mistaken; it is based on the transatlantic principle,” the Polish Minister of National Defence emphasized.
România si Aliatii au fost informați de decizia Statelor Unite privind redimensionarea trupelor americane din Europahttps://t.co/mf0m6CNoUB
— MApN (@MApNRomania) October 29, 2025