The US Department of Defense is considering a proposal to withdraw up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, six US and European officials familiar with the internal discussions, quoted by NBC news, reported.
The potential move raises serious concerns among European allies who fear that it will be interpreted by Moscow as a weakening of Western deterrence.
The military formations whose withdrawal is being discussed are part of 20,000 troops sent by the Biden administration in 2022 after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The biggest focus of the discussions is on the forces stationed in Poland and Romania, key countries on NATO's eastern flank.
The proposal coincides with President Donald Trump's renewed attempts to reach a truce with Vladimir Putin and a shift in US strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific region and competition with China. The Trump administration has argued that European allies must take greater responsibility for their own defence.
"Harsh strategic realities prevent the US from remaining focused primarily on European security," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in Brussels in February.
According to EU officials, any reduction in the presence would be interpreted by the Kremlin as a signal of a weakening US commitment to NATO, which could encourage Russian intervention in Europe. Analysts warn that such a move would create a vacuum that partners would have difficulty filling on their own.
"The Russians will perceive this as a sign of weakness and will become more assertive," said Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Meanwhile, criticism is being heard in the Senate. Republican Roger Wicker, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, accused unnamed Pentagon officials of "acting behind the back of the defense secretary" and preparing "a dangerous withdrawal from Europe."
The decision is being discussed against the backdrop of disagreement between the United States and Ukraine over future aid. Trump has already frozen military and intelligence support for Kiev after a clash with Zelensky and is demanding concessions from Ukraine before new supplies are delivered.
According to NBC News, Trump has not committed to future military aid to Kiev, and looming budget cuts are increasing pressure to cut foreign commitments. Withdrawing forces would free up resources for priority military programs and new investments in weapons and technology aimed at countering China.
While the West is discussing cuts, Russia is actively reorganizing and modernizing its military, according to a Danish intelligence analysis from February. If the war in Ukraine is ended or frozen in a truce, Moscow could be in a position to launch another major offensive in Europe within five years if NATO does not strengthen its defenses.
The former commander of US forces in Europe, General Ben Hodges, also expressed concern about the possible withdrawal. "We will be left with a much smaller deterrent capacity," he said. "The Europeans are making progress, but this gap will be difficult to fill."