Europe expects Trump to withdraw 20,000 US troops from EU countries - WP
Photo: The United States may withdraw 20,000 troops from Europe (Getty Images)
Europe expects the US to withdraw thousands of American troops. They were deployed to Europe by the Biden administration at the start of the war in Ukraine, informs The Washington Post.
Three European diplomats said they anticipate withdrawing about 20,000 US military personnel from Europe.
"I would not be surprised if at some point (those troops) go back to their home base in America," said a NATO diplomat.
Analysts believe that if European troops are sent to Ukraine to support a ceasefire, it could also hinder US efforts to fill any gaps elsewhere. This would become part of their negotiations with Donald Trump's administration.
Europe also hosts a key American contingent involved in command and control operations. According to the US European Command, the number of US troops in Europe has fluctuated between 75,000 and 105,000 since 2022. Around 63,000 of them are permanently stationed there, while the rest are rotated.
Beyond troops, the US provides high-tech capabilities in which Europe lags behind, including surveillance and long-range strike systems, according to analysts and officials.
Disputes between Trump and Europe
Before winning the election, US President Donald Trump had already accused Europe of spending less on aid to Ukraine than the US.
At the Munich Security Conference, US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg said he does not see Europe at the negotiating table regarding Ukraine. This sparked outrage and criticism among EU countries.
This week, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Washington. Their visits came ahead of a conflict that erupted between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.
