US reportedly weighing withdrawal of up to a third of its European troops

The US Department of Defense is reviewing plans to significantly reduce America's military presence in Europe, NBC News reports, citing seven current and former Western officials. The plans could affect roughly a third of all US forces in the region — about 25,000 troops.

According to one American source and another contact, the cuts could go even further, potentially reaching around 40,000 service members. If implemented, such plans would represent the largest reduction of US military presence in Europe since the end of the Cold War.

The prospect of such drastic steps has worried members of Congress from both parties as well as European capitals. The reductions would most likely affect US contingents in Germany, Italy and Spain — countries whose stance during President Donald Trump's confrontation with Iran reportedly angered him.

Where the largest contingents are based

The largest American troop presence — 36,000 service members — is currently stationed in Germany, while about 12,000 US troops are based in Italy.

The Pentagon announced a review of its plans for US presence in Europe in June 2026. This Friday, General Alexus Grynkewich, who heads US European Command and also serves as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, is expected to present his assessment to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The document is expected to outline four possible courses of action, which could include reductions to US ground forces, air power or naval presence, as well as a possible relocation of some "western" contingents to countries on NATO's eastern flank. Hegseth is due to receive final recommendations on November 6, after which the conclusions will be submitted to Trump for review.

For now, according to a senior Pentagon official and two other sources, no specific decisions have been made. In the summer of 2026, Trump stated he might refuse to provide assistance to NATO member states in response to insufficient support from alliance members during the US military operation against Iran.