Trump signs law locking in US military presence in Europe

US President Donald Trump has signed into law legislation that sets a minimum level of 76,000 American troops in Europe throughout 2026, AFP reported.

Under the law, the number of US service members stationed on the continent may not fall below that threshold for more than 45 days, effectively codifying a sustained US military presence in Europe.

According to the Pentagon, approximately 100,000 US troops are currently deployed in Europe, including more than 65,000 permanently stationed personnel, with the remainder serving on rotational deployments.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the legislation—spanning more than 3,000 pages—reflects Trump’s guiding principle of “peace through strength.”

The law also provides for:

• $400 million in funding for arms procurement for Ukraine;

• Financing for the Golden Dome missile defence shield initiated by Trump;

• A US defence budget of approximately $900 billion for the next fiscal year, $8 billion higher than the administration’s previous proposal.

By Tamilla Hasanova