Media: US president proposes reducing military presence in Europe

US President Donald Trump is seeking to reduce the American military presence in Europe by approximately 20,000 personnel.

The move, still in the early stages and not yet discussed in detail with European partners, would come with a request for European nations to significantly increase their financial contributions towards the remaining US troops stationed on the continent, Caliber.Az reports citing Italian media.

Trump’s position, long articulated during his presidency, is based on the belief that the US military serves as a key deterrent in Europe and that its upkeep should not be the sole responsibility of American taxpayers. The president has previously called for NATO members to allocate 5 per cent of their GDP to defence spending, well above the current 1.9 per cent average in European Union countries. For comparison, Russia reportedly spends about 9 per cent of its GDP on defence.

The proposed reductions could leave up to 80,000 US troops stationed in Europe, though the exact number remains unclear. Italy is home to around 12,000 US service members across various NATO bases, including in Aviano, Naples, Sigonella, Vicenza, Pisa, and Latina.

A diplomatic source noted that Trump is "consistently" communicating his stance on military burden-sharing to European leaders, emphasizing that the remaining troops would require greater financial contributions from host countries, given the strategic deterrence they provide.

This proposed shift marks a significant re-evaluation of the US’ military commitments in Europe, with implications for the broader NATO alliance and the future of transatlantic defence cooperation.

By Vafa Guliyeva