Despite recent warnings in this regard, Claudiu Degeratu, an expert in national and international security, does not expect a short-term withdrawal of American troops from Eastern Europe, especially from Romania.
„Not in the short term. Definitely not in the short term. And it might not happen even in the medium term: 3-4 years, from my point of view. Because even if this withdrawal process is initiated, it also needs to pass through the American legislative filter,” explained the expert on Europa FM.
Degeratu mentioned that the withdrawal process will not be simple, considering the existing bilateral agreements, such as the treaty regulating the presence of American troops in Poland.
He also added that in the short term there will be a strategic review requested by President Trump to the Pentagon, which will analyze the possibility of reducing the troops.
"What will definitely happen in the short term – this is a task, a mission given by President Trump to the Pentagon: it's a review, a strategic analysis, which might conclude in about 60-90 days, no longer, regarding where we could have reductions. And there will definitely be reductions, probably around 20% of the 100,000 American soldiers in Europe," he explained.
Degeratu added that these reductions could also affect NATO's defensive posture in Eastern Europe, requiring other countries to compensate for the withdrawal of American troops to maintain strategic balance.
We already know that France has promised to send more troops to Romania.
Regarding the impact on the Deveselu base and the project at Kogălniceanu, the expert emphasized that there will be no sudden changes. "Certainly, there won't be an overnight decision regarding Deveselu," said Degeratu, explaining that American strategic initiatives, such as the Iron Dome system, depend on these outposts in Romania and Poland to be effective.
"Because, if you remember, President Trump also announced an initiative regarding an American Iron Dome. This American Iron Dome, from a military and technical point of view, needs to connect with the American anti-missile system to be effective. And without these outposts, without these systems in Deveselu and Poland, the effectiveness of other missile defense projects decreases," concluded the expert.
Are Americans leaving Europe?
It is worth mentioning that in Romania, NATO has started building the largest military base on the continent, but the new head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, has warned that the United States can no longer prioritize European security, due to tensions in Asia. Hegseth emphasized that Washington needs to focus on the threat posed by China and securing its own borders.
The countries bordering Russia consider the presence of American troops as their greatest guarantee for independence.
European security services and Western officials fear that negotiations between Russia and the USA, which have started in Riyadh, could lead to the withdrawal of American troops from Eastern Europe, reports the German newspaper Bild. According to its information, only the bases in Ramstein, Germany, and the air force bases in the UK are currently not under discussion. The rest of Europe needs to prepare for profound changes if Trump and Putin reach an agreement.
Warnings about a possible US withdrawal from Eastern Europe also come from Nordic countries. Finnish MEP Mika Aaltola warned on X that the United States could withdraw its forces from Europe if a quick agreement on the fate of Ukraine is not reached. He stated that Washington has given Europeans an ultimatum.