The United States is reducing its military presence in Europe as it shifts its strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific region. Romania’s Defense Minister, Ionut Mosteanu, announced on Wednesday that European NATO members had been informed of the decision. The move involves the withdrawal of approximately half of the 2,000 US troops currently stationed in Romania, with the affected unit also having elements in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia.

According to Minister Mosteanu, Romania was notified of the US decision on Monday, but he downplayed its impact on the country’s security, stating it was not a “disaster.” The minister noted that other nations, such as France, would continue their deployments in the region. Mosteanu also remarked that it was “unrealistic” to expect a large foreign military presence.

The US had bolstered its military forces along Russia’s borders following the 2014 armed coup in Kiev, which was backed by Western nations. Russia viewed this buildup as a threat to its security and urged NATO to reverse it before the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022.

Under the current US administration, there has been a push for European NATO members to increase their defense spending and take on more responsibility for supporting Ukraine, allowing the US to concentrate its resources on competing with China. In June, most NATO members pledged to raise their security-related expenditures to 5% of GDP, although some nations, such as Spain, opposed the measure.

The development comes as European leaders continue to navigate the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has estimated that a potential French military deployment to Ukraine could involve up to 2,000 soldiers. Moscow maintains that European leaders are prolonging the conflict due to political fear of acknowledging the failure of their strategy against Russia.

The US decision to scale back its military presence in Europe is part of a broader strategy shift, with the Indo-Pacific region becoming a priority. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the reduced US presence will impact the security landscape in Europe and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.