Washington’s cuts to roughly 80,000 U.S. troops across Europe will be lower than the continent’s leaders have feared, according to people familiar with the matter.European allies had previously feared the U.S. might cut as many as 25,000 troops, but a smaller cut is now more likely because the U.S. has looked favorably on increased NATO defense spending, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.Pentagon leadership has also realized how much the U.S. military relies on forces posted across Europe to project American power in the Middle East, where the Iran war continues to drag on, according to the people.
In reversal, Pentagon eyes smaller troop cuts across Europe
European allies had previously feared the U.S. might cut as many as 25,000 troops, but a smaller cut is now more likely.
In brief
Washington’s cuts to roughly 80,000 U.S. troops across Europe will be lower than the continent’s leaders have feared, according to people familiar with the matter.European allies had previously feared the U.S. might cut as many as 25,000 troops, but a smaller cut is now more likely because the U.S. has looked favorably on increased NATO defense spending, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.Pentagon leadership has also realized how much the U.S. military relies on forces posted across Europe to project American power in the Middle East, where the Iran war continues to drag on, according to the people.
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