US to Reduce Troops in Europe; NATO Chief Says Defense Plans Unaffected
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated in Brussels that the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Europe will not harm the alliance's defense plans. The announcement, made after a dispute between US President Trump and German Chancellor Merz over Iran, has unsettled Europe. Rutte explained the troops are rotational and the US strategic shift to Asia is an expected adjustment. European allies are seeking clarification from the US, and it is also anticipated that Washington will reduce the total number of forces available to NATO.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 21:52
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 22:02 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 22:13 (11 min after Collected)
(Brussels, 20th, Agence France-Presse) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated today that the US decision to withdraw 5,000 American troops from Europe will not harm NATO's defense plans. Washington is also expected to reduce the forces available for NATO deployment. Rutte told reporters: "Regarding this announcement, these 4,000 to 5,000 individuals are part of rotational forces and do not impact NATO's defense planning." Washington announced this month that it would withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany after US President Donald Trump clashed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the issue of war with Iran. The abrupt decision, followed by confusion over whether the reduction would affect Germany or Poland, has unsettled Europe. However, the Trump administration has long told European countries that the US intends to withdraw troops from Europe to focus on other global threats. Rutte stated, "We knew adjustments would happen. The United States will inevitably have to pivot more towards—for example—Asia. ... This will happen gradually in an orderly manner." Trump has criticized Europe's reaction to his conflict with Iran and has repeatedly threatened that he might consider withdrawing from NATO. The US Department of War said yesterday that US forces in Europe would be reduced from four brigades to three, returning the deployment size to 2021 levels. US Vice President JD Vance said yesterday that the plan to deploy 4,000 soldiers to Poland is postponed, not canceled. NATO's European member states will seek clarification from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a meeting in Sweden this week. They also hope to resolve tensions before the NATO leaders' summit in Turkey in July. While the current focus is on US troops in Europe, the US is also expected to announce a reduction in the total number of forces available to NATO in a crisis. European diplomats said they expect the US to confirm a reduction in its contribution to the NATO force model at a high-level meeting in Brussels on the 22nd. The NATO force model refers to the number of troops from across the alliance that can be made available to NATO commanders within 180 days when needed.