US Reduces Military Presence in Romania Amid Strategic Shift

Thu Oct 30 2025 02:50:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The US will decrease its troop presence in Romania as part of a broader realignment of military focus, reducing from 1,700 to approximately 900-1,000 personnel.

Romania's defense ministry announced that the US plans to cut its troop presence on NATO's eastern flank, reducing the number of American soldiers stationed to about 900-1,000 from 1,700. This reduction aligns with the Biden administration's shift in focus towards the Indo-Pacific region, urging European nations to bolster their own defense capabilities. While some bases in Romania will see a decrease in US personnel, the overall military commitment to the NATO alliance remains significant, with reassurances following recent regional tensions, particularly concerning Russian airspace violations.

Romania's defence ministry has confirmed that the US intends to reduce some of its troops stationed on NATO's eastern flank.

Approximately 900 to 1,000 American troops will remain in Romania, a significant reduction from the current 1,700 troops.

The decision to resize the US military presence is attributed to the shifting priorities of the Biden administration, as outlined by Romanian Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu. He reported that his US counterpart Pete Hegseth has communicated a need for European nations to prioritize their own defense while the US redirects focus toward the Indo-Pacific region.

US military personnel — One US brigade at the Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase will be rotated out and not replaced.

Mosteanu further stated that this adjustment involves the rotation of one US brigade stationed at the Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase, which is anticipated to become NATO's largest in Europe, without plans for immediate replacement. However, specifics regarding the potential withdrawal of US troops from Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Hungary—where elements of this brigade are stationed—remain unclear.

While Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has indicated no news regarding US troop reductions in Poland, Romanian officials stress that bases in Deveselu and Campia Turzii will maintain their current US presence.

Since taking office, President Biden has emphasized a desire to redirect America's military commitment from Europe towards the Indo-Pacific, encouraging European NATO members to take greater responsibility for regional defense. This recalibration, while significant, raises concerns among Eastern European nations regarding potential vulnerabilities to Russian aggression.

A NATO official reassured that the US commitment to the alliance remains strong, with these troop adjustments being a common practice and the overall US force presence in Europe still greater than in previous years.

The announcement came amidst increasing tensions in the region, following incidents of Russian drones entering Polish airspace and similar breaches reported in Romania and Estonia.