The US may withdraw 25,000–40,000 troops from Europe

The Pentagon is weighing a drastic plan to pull planes, ships, weapons and tens of thousands of U.S. troops from Europe, despite warnings from NATO allies about the growing threat of Russian aggression, according to seven current and former U.S. and Western officials.

The reduction could be roughly one-third of all U.S. troops in Europe, or roughly 25,000. One U.S. official and another person with knowledge of the deliberations say it could be even larger — as much as half, or up to 40,000 troops.

If carried out, it would be the most significant scaling back of the 80,000-strong U.S. military presence in Europe since the aftermath of the Cold War in the 1990s. Countries affected by the cuts will likely include Germany, Italy and Spain, according to three U.S. officials, a Western official and a former U.S. official with knowledge of the matter. The three nations host the bulk of U.S. troops in Europe, but leaders of all the countries have also clashed with President Donald Trump over the war with Iran.

Alexus Grynkewich, the supreme allied commander and the head of U.S. European Command, is expected to provide his analysis to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, according to the U.S. and Western officials.

Hegseth is due to receive a final recommendation on Nov. 6, which would then be presented to the president.