Bucharest insists the decision is not a withdrawal but a rotation adjustment, and that 1.000 U.S. soldiers will remain in the country. Romania’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed on Wednesday (29 October) that the United States plans to reduce the number of troops deployed on NATO’s eastern flank, including those stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base near the Black Sea. The move, Bucharest said, was not unexpected and reflects Washington’s shifting strategic priorities. Roughly 1,000 American soldiers will remain in Romania.
“The American decision is to stop the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries,” the ministry said in a statement, noting that the adjustment does not amount to a withdrawal. The Romanian government emphasised that it remains in “permanent contact” with its American strategic partner and that U.S. presence will continue to represent a guarantee of regional security.
Defence Minister Ionuț Moșteanu underlined that Romania remains a safe country. “We are not talking about a withdrawal of American forces,” he said.
“Romania’s strategic capabilities remain unchanged. The missile defense system in Deveselu is operating normally, the Câmpia Turzii base maintains its role for air operations, and Mihail Kogălniceanu will continue to expand. The American flag will remain at all three points. The allied presence is still considerable in Romania – from the United States to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Poland and North Macedonia. We continue to have exercises”, Moșteanu said at a press conference.
The Deveselu missile defence system is A U.S.-operated Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defence site in southern Romania, equipped with SM-3 interceptors to counter short- to intermediate-range threats as part of NATO’s missile defence architecture. Câmpia Turzii is a Romanian Air Force facility in central Transylvania that hosts U.S. rotational air operations, including F-16 fighters and MQ-9 Reaper drones, supporting NATO enhanced air policing and regional security missions. Mihail Kogălniceanu base is a major Romanian military hub near Constanța on the Black Sea, currently expanding to become NATO’s largest European base with U.S. troop presence, runways, and infrastructure upgrades for allied air and ground operations.
According to the minister, the main force ensuring national defence remains the Romanian Army. The minister also confirmed that Bucharest recently received an advanced U.S. air defence system, strengthening its ability to counter drones entering Romanian airspace.
Retired General Ștefan Dănilă, former Chief of the Army General Staff, said the downsizing had been anticipated since the spring. “From an operational point of view, it is not significant, but as a strategic message it is serious. The unpredictability of the Trump Administration’s decisions, combined with the domestic political situation, throws us into a state similar to that of 1939-1940,” he warned.
NATO officials confirmed that adjustments to U.S. deployments in Europe are not unusual and are being carried out in close coordination with allies. “The decision also took into account that NATO has consolidated its presence and activity on the Eastern Flank, which enables the United States to adjust its military posture in the region,” the Romanian ministry said.
Across the alliance, similar changes are taking shape. Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command announced the relocation of American personnel and equipment from Jasionka Airport near Rzeszów in Poland – a key logistical hub for Western assistance to Ukraine. The command stressed that the move, “part of a broader strategy to optimise operations,” was planned months in advance with NATO partners. Polish President Andrzej Duda assured that the relocation “does not mean a withdrawal of troops.”
In Bulgaria, under the 2006 Defence Cooperation Agreement, no more than 2,500 U.S. military personnel may be present at any given time. Traditionally, between 200 and 550 troops rotate through the Novo Selo base for six-month periods, with numbers peaking during large-scale exercises. So far the Bulgarian authorities have not commented if they have been informed by the U.S. about any reduce of the number of American troops deployed in the country.
The broader reshuffle across Eastern Europe aligns with the Trump administration’s long-standing argument that European allies must shoulder more responsibility for their own security. “The U.S. is concerned about competition with China, and Europe must guarantee its own defence,” Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told Sky, noting that the shift in focus began under President Barack Obama.
Despite the security risks in the region as Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on, Trump has recently signalled that Washington could “increase” its troop presence in Poland if needed. Still, the current recalibration fits his earlier rhetoric. In 2020, as president, Trump announced plans to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany, accusing Berlin of “not paying its bills” and insisting: “We don’t want to be the suckers any more.”
At the time, then-Defence Secretary Mark Esper sought to reassure allies, saying the move would not undermine NATO deterrence and that some troops would be repositioned closer to the Black Sea, a signal that the United States intended to remain engaged in the region.