Romania‘s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that some US troops rotated out of the country would not be replaced, as the US plans to cut the number of troops stationed on NATO‘s eastern flank in Europe.
The move would impact a force including soldiers stationed at Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, according to authorities in Bucharest.
“The American decision is to stop the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries,” the Defense Ministry said.
Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu also noted how overall troop numbers on NATO’s eastern flank would remain higher than before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even after the changes.
The EU and NATO member shares a 650-kilometer (roughly 400-mile) border with Ukraine and has faced several Russian drone incursions in recent months.
US officials confirmed the plans but said the changes were a part of Washington’s longstanding and bipartisan plans to “pivot to Asia,” as well as a sign of improved European readiness in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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