Pentagon weighs cutting tens of thousands of US troops in Europe
Officials float options of about 25,000 to 40,000 out of roughly 80,000, with a November decision path.
The Pentagon is weighing a major reduction of US forces in Europe, according to current and former US and Western officials speaking to NBC News and other outlets.
Roughly 80,000 American service members are stationed across the continent. Options under discussion include withdrawing about 25,000 troops, or close to a third of the force. Some officials say the figure could reach 40,000, about half the presence, along with aircraft, ships and other capabilities.
No final decision has been taken. A six-month posture review launched in June asks US European Command chief Gen. Alexus Grynkewich to assess future requirements. An initial analysis was due to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth around Friday, with a fuller recommendation expected by November 6 before any package goes to President Donald Trump.
Germany, Italy and Spain would likely feel the heaviest cuts if a large drawdown goes ahead. Germany alone hosts about 36,000 US troops. Trump has repeatedly criticised Nato allies for relying on US security while, in his view, offering too little support during the US-Israeli war with Iran. European governments urge any change to move slowly, saying long-range missiles, aerial refuelling and satellite surveillance take years to replace.
This is the largest potential US drawdown in Europe since the post-Cold War cuts, and it lands while Russia's war in Ukraine continues and European capitals report sabotage, cyberattacks and drone incidents they blame on Moscow.
For India, the story is less about European bases and more about how Trump's America First defence map redistributes attention toward China, Iran and the Western Hemisphere. A thinner US conventional footprint in Europe also pushes Nato members to spend and field more of their own forces, which reshapes the alliance India watches at a distance.
The rift is already political. Trump has said he wants "loyalty" from allies more than their money. European leaders reply that US bases also project American power into the Middle East and Africa, so a rapid exit would cost Washington as well as Brussels.
The near-term marker is Hegseth's November 6 package and what options it actually lists: deep cuts, redeployment east, or a reshuffle that keeps numbers closer to today. Watch reactions from Berlin, Rome and Madrid, and whether Congress pushes back. Until Trump signs something concrete, the 25,000-to-40,000 range remains a planning debate, not a marching order.