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Washington to Withdraw Hundreds of Troops from Romania’s Key NATO Base

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Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk
Cyril Barabaltchouk
News Writer
Washington to Withdraw Hundreds of Troops from Romania’s Key NATO Base
The Romanian Armed Forces' Flakpanzer Gepard 1A2, an anti-aircraft gun tank participates in a military parade along a highway on the occasion of Polish Armed Forces Day In Warsaw, Poland. (Source: Getty Images)

The United States has informed Romania and its NATO allies that it will reduce the number of American troops stationed in Europe, including several hundred currently based at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Digi24 reported, citing Romania’s Ministry of National Defense on October 29.

Roughly 1,000 US soldiers will remain in the country to continue supporting deterrence operations on NATO’s eastern flank.

According to the ministry, the drawdown is part of Washington’s broader reassessment of its global military posture and reflects new priorities announced earlier this year by the Trump administration.

It also follows NATO’s recent buildup of forces in Eastern Europe, which the US said allows for adjustments to its deployment, Digi24 wrote.

Romanian officials described the move as anticipated but emphasized continued coordination with Washington.

Romianian Defense Minister Ionuț Moșteanu said Romania’s “strategic capabilities remain unchanged,” while President Nicușor Dan convened talks with senior government officials to assess the implications, Digi24 reported.

Security experts in Bucharest, however, warned that the decision could weaken regional deterrence.

Former chief of the Romanian General Staff General Ștefan Dănilă called it a “serious strategic message,” while George Scutaru, director of the New Strategy Center, told Digi24 the move “sends the wrong signal” and could encourage Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, according to Digi 24.

NATO downplayed concerns, noting that the US military presence in Europe “remains high” and that discussions on troop distribution across the alliance are ongoing.

Digi24 stated that before the announcement, about 1,700 US troops were deployed in Romania across Mihail Kogălniceanu, Deveselu, and Câmpia Turzii bases and that the withdrawal marks the most significant US force reduction in the country since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Previously, it was reported that Romania stands ready to assist Moldova if the republic faces aggression from Russia, Romania’s top army commander said in an interview with Euronews.

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