US reportedly considering troop withdrawal from Europe

The United States may be preparing to withdraw some of its military forces from Europe, according to a report by the German newspaper Bild, which cites high-ranking sources.

The move is said to be linked to a long-standing demand by Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for the removal of U.S. troops from NATO member states that joined the alliance after 1990.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth informed European officials during a recent visit to the EU about plans to scale back the American military presence in Europe. However, the Pentagon has refused to comment on the matter, and U.S. Armed Forces officials have stated that no formal orders for troop withdrawal have been issued.

Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, acknowledged the possibility of a reduction in U.S. troop numbers in Europe but dismissed the likelihood of a complete withdrawal.

According to Bild, Washington’s shift in policy signals a return to the dynamics of U.S.-Russia relations reminiscent of the late Soviet era under President Mikhail Gorbachev. The newspaper’s sources claim that discussions surrounding troop repositioning date back to 2021, when Moscow insisted that NATO rollback its military presence in Eastern Europe.

"Based on our information, President Putin’s demand includes the withdrawal of American troops from all NATO countries that joined after 1990," Bild reported.

By Vugar Khalilov