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The Romanian Ministry of Defense has been "informed of the review of a portion of the US troops deployed on NATO's eastern flank, as part of the process of reassessing the global position of US military forces," the announcement published on October 29 said.
"Among the elements of the brigade that will stop the rotations in Europe are also mentioned the forces destined for Romania, stationed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base," the Romanian Ministry of Defense said.
This ministry emphasized that "the decision was expected, as Romania has been in constant contact with the American strategic partner."
"The review of US forces is part of the new priorities of the US administration, announced since February. The decision also took into account the fact that NATO has strengthened its presence and activity on the eastern flank, which allows the United States to adjust its military posture in the region," the statement said.
The Romanian ministry also stressed that "the American decision concerns the interruption of the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries."
"Nearly 1,000 American soldiers will remain deployed on Romanian territory, contributing to the prevention of any threat and continuing to represent a guarantee of the US commitment to regional security," the defense department said.
The announcement by the Romanian Ministry of Defense comes after several months of rumors about a withdrawal of US troops from the eastern wing of the Western military alliance.
Ukrainian newspaper Kyiv Post reported on Tuesday evening that NATO allies were informed of the decision this week and that, in internal discussions, personnel reductions were also considered, including in Poland, but the final decision affected only Romania.
Neither the authorities in Bucharest nor the US have yet given an exact figure for the number of US soldiers in Romania. At the beginning of 2025, more than 1,700 US soldiers were deployed, mainly in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Deveselu and Campia Turzii. Nearly 1,400 of them are located at the 57th Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.
Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu told Radio Free Europe in early October that "there are close to 2,000 American soldiers in Mihail Kogalniceanu."
"We are waiting for the US National Defense Strategy, which will be presented soon. We will see if they will maintain their presence and position on the eastern flank, in Europe... Romania is important for the US," declared Minister Mosteanu.
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