The Pentagon may slash its European force footprint by nearly a third, according to an NBC News report that puts the potential troop withdrawal between 25,000 and 40,000 personnel.
Roughly 80,000 American service members currently operate across the continent. Defense planners have produced no binding decision yet, but the scope alone signals a historic recalibration of U.S. military posture in Europe.
Officials familiar with the discussions told NBC that Germany, Italy, and Spain would likely absorb the biggest reductions. Germany hosts around 36,000 U.S. troops, Italy approximately 12,000, and Spain maintains significant American air and naval installations.
The proposed drawdown stems from a six-month Pentagon assessment of force levels across the region. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads U.S. European Command and serves as NATO’s supreme allied commander, will deliver preliminary findings to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday.
That review will outline multiple scenarios involving ground, naval, and aviation assets. Some options include repositioning troops toward NATO’s eastern flank. A final recommendation reaches Hegseth by Nov. 6, after which any proposal goes to President Donald Trump.
The administration insists European allies must shoulder conventional defense burdens while Washington pivots toward China, Iran, and the Western Hemisphere. But European governments and some U.S. lawmakers warn that hasty withdrawals could embolden Moscow.
One congressional Republican called a 25,000-troop cut “not acceptable,” arguing that Russian deterrence cannot be maintained on the cheap. European officials have pressed for gradual reductions, allowing time to build long-range missile capabilities, surveillance systems, and aerial refueling capacity.
Congress has already restricted certain Pentagon funding if European troop levels dip below 76,000. Defense officials counter that rotational deployments might circumvent those statutory limits.
Tensions between the Pentagon and State Department have flared over the review. Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened in June after defense officials prepared to brief NATO ministers on major reductions, according to NBC.
Hegseth has framed the assessment as ensuring Europe takes “primary responsibility for the defense of Europe.” Meanwhile, Grynkewich has told lawmakers that European bases also enable faster U.S. power projection into Africa and the Middle East.
European capitals continue sounding alarms over Russian hybrid threats, including sabotage, cyberattacks, and drone incursions. Germany recently accused Moscow of orchestrating a drone strike attempt at Leipzig airport, while NATO jets have intercepted several drones along the alliance’s eastern edge since June.
