Trump Has Changed His Mind About Reducing U.S. Troops In Europe

• 26.06.2025, 18:41

The U.S. Army's mission in Europe will continue.

The number of U.S. troops in Europe will remain unchanged, despite the fact that the Pentagon seeks to send more forces and resources to the Asia-Pacific region. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. ground forces in Europe and Africa, told Stars and Stripes.

He said that in meetings with "all the senior leaders" he has been told "no one and nothing" about the cuts.

"I don't think our military posture is going to change in any way," the publication quoted Donahue as saying.

The general is confident that the U.S. Army's mission in Europe will continue.

"I just don't think there's going to be any change.... Everybody has to step up and do their part," he said.

At the same time, having troops in Europe does not mean they should stay there if they are needed elsewhere in the event of a crisis, the senior military official said.

"It's a global army. Anyone who is in Europe can be deployed anywhere in the world," Donahue added.

The publication points out that the general's statements came at the same time as a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, attended by President Donald Trump. Members of the bloc agreed on Trump's demand to increase defense spending to 5%.

The US Department of Defense, although announcing a revision of the global arrangement of forces, did not give instructions to reduce 80,000 troops on European territories, the article says. At the same time, Petagon head Pete Hegseth said that the armed forces of the countries of Europe should be ready to provide the bulk of conventional defense capabilities on the continent themselves.