The United States has begun its announced review of its military presence in Europe, a move being read as fresh pressure on NATO allies to carry more of the burden of defending the continent. So far, Washington has offered more political messaging than concrete details on what might actually be cut.
Pentagon confirms review, but does not clarify what is affected
According to public statements by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s third-highest-ranking official, this is a “real review” of the US presence in Europe. In the official version, the process is intended to ensure that NATO acts more quickly and that Europe assumes the primary responsibility for its conventional defense.
However, Colby has not provided details on the specific elements that will be examined. That leaves open the central question: is this a routine strategic reassessment, or preparation for real cuts to the American military presence on the continent?
Trump administration pressure on European allies
President Donald Trump has long criticized European NATO countries for low defense spending. Although some states, including Germany, have recently increased their budgets significantly, the US administration appears to want more than that: a clearer shift of the security burden toward Europe.
That position was articulated earlier by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who announced in Brussels in June that the reassessment of the US presence was expected to last about six months. His rhetoric was sharp, portraying NATO as an alliance that, in his view, has operated for years in an unbalanced way in Europe’s favor.
Reports of troop and military asset cuts
Although the final decision has not been made public, media reports in June suggested that not only troop numbers are under review, but also reductions in fighter aircraft, drones, aerial refueling planes and naval units stationed in Europe.
At present, the United States has around 80,000 troops in Europe. In the spring, Trump and Hegseth had warned of withdrawals of US troops, including from Germany, a signal that had prompted strong reactions in local communities affected by US bases and the American military presence.
Germany at the center of conflicting scenarios
Germany in particular has been mentioned as one of the countries that could be most affected. At one stage, it was reported that at least 5,000 soldiers, out of around 39,000 currently stationed there, could be withdrawn within six to 12 months.
Along the same lines, Washington has also suspended plans to deploy long-range cruise missiles in Germany. This indicates that the review is linked not only to cost or troop distribution, but to a broader redefinition of US security priorities.
US focus shifts to homeland and China
According to the new strategic line presented by the Trump administration in January, the United States wants to remain a strong NATO partner, but its top priorities are the defense of US territory and deterring China. This moves Europe lower in the hierarchy of American military commitments.
In this context, the demand that European allies cover more of their own defense is presented not simply as a financial debate, but as part of a strategic reorientation. For NATO countries, the dilemma now is not only how much they should spend, but how much they can realistically rely on American guarantees at a moment of tension.
Recent statements from Washington make clear that the US-NATO relationship is entering a more transactional phase, in which rhetoric about partnership is accompanied by stronger demands and tangible signals of a shrinking military presence.
Beyond the official wording, the remaining question is how far this review will go and whether Europe is truly ready to carry the weight the United States is seeking to transfer.