US Cuts Troop Presence in Romania Amid Rising Tensions on NATO’s Eastern Flank

Europe’s eastern flank faces a growing dilemma as the United States moves to reduce its troop presence in Romania, a key buffer against Russian aggression, even as Moscow continues to probe NATO airspace with drones and fighter jets.

Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, a strategic facility close to Ukraine, has been central to NATO’s eastern defenses. But according to Romania’s defence ministry, the US is now resizing its forces there as part of a broader reassessment of global military priorities.

“We were informed about the resizing of part of the American soldiers deployed on NATO’s eastern flank, as part of the process of reassessing the global posture of the US military forces,” the ministry said.
Roughly 1,000 US troops will remain stationed in Romania, though the ministry did not clarify how many would be withdrawn.

NATO Downplays the Move

Both Romania and NATO have sought to downplay concerns, framing the shift as a pause in troop rotations rather than a withdrawal. Romanian Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu described the change as the “cessation of the rotation of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary.”

Meanwhile, Polish Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that no similar adjustments had been communicated regarding US forces in Poland, signaling uneven coordination across the alliance.

Rising Tensions on the Eastern Flank

The troop reduction comes amid heightened Russian activity. Earlier this month, NATO forces shot down a mystery drone near a US base in Estonia, less than 30 miles from the Russian border. Last month, three Russian MiG-31 fighters briefly violated Estonian airspace, demonstrating Moscow’s willingness to challenge NATO’s readiness. Romania itself has faced multiple airspace violations over the past three years, with the latest recorded on September 13, 2025.

Bolstering troop levels and command capabilities around the Black Sea has become a priority after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO’s Steadfast Dart exercise earlier this year showcased the Alliance’s Allied Reaction Force (ARF), but US forces were notably absent, an omission NATO officials have avoided discussing publicly.

Shifting US Priorities

The reduction in Romania reflects a broader realignment of US military priorities following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The administration has repeatedly emphasized that security resources will be focused elsewhere, urging NATO allies to increase their own military spending.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently indicated that NATO may no longer be Washington’s central security priority, raising questions about the future reliability of American guarantees for European defense.

The Eastern Flank at a Crossroads

With Russian drones and jets continuing to test NATO air defenses, and US troop numbers in key buffer zones being scaled back, Europe’s eastern flank now faces a precarious security environment. NATO countries must weigh whether alliances and deterrence measures are sufficient to protect the region or if the reduced American presence will embolden Moscow further.