The decision by the Trump administration to resize the American military presence in Eastern Europe, including in Romania, has elicited immediate reactions from former military personnel and security experts.
According to the Ministry of Defense, approximately one thousand American soldiers will remain stationed at the bases in Mihail Kogălniceanu, Câmpia Turzii, and Deveselu, and the strategic capabilities are not affected.
The measure, presented by Washington as part of a "global reassessment of defense posture", nevertheless marks a change in the American commitment on NATO's Eastern Flank and comes against the backdrop of increasing tensions in the Black Sea region.
Former Chief of the General Staff, General (r) Ștefan Dănilă, considers that the reduction of troops "is not significant operationally, but is serious as a strategic message," while analyst Iulian Chifu talks about a "transfer of responsibility" to European allies.
Other experts point out that Romania must adapt to an era where automatic protection provided by the United States is no longer guaranteed. "The days when others defended us are over," warns Iulian Fota, while Dan Luca emphasizes that the decision "is not surprising" and must be seen in the context of strengthening European strategic autonomy.
Here are the main reactions following the announcement of the partial withdrawal of troops from Romania:
Serious strategic message
General (r) Ştefan Dănilă, former Chief of the General Staff of the Romanian Army, on Facebook:
The reduction of American troops in Romania is a previously announced surprise from spring. Operationally, it is not significant, but as a strategic message, it is serious. The internal situation favors political attacks, acerbic press articles, and accusations against the current political leadership.
Five years ago, I said we had the best security situation in Romanian history. Our main guarantee was the strategic partnership with the USA. The unpredictability of the Trump Administration's decisions, combined with the internal political situation, throw us into a state similar to that of 1939-1940.
"We must not panic"
General (r) Marius Crăciun, on TVR Info:
We must primarily prepare ourselves. We rely on allies, but we must take all measures, make all financial and human efforts, because here again, it seems we forget about human resources. The military structures in Romania must be strengthened, personnel must be paid as they should be, retirees from these Romanian structures must be paid as they should be.
We must solve many things with our own forces and continue the connection with allies, convince France, for example, to increase the permanent presence of French forces on Romanian territory. But, once again, the heaviest burden is on us, the Romanian army.
The Americans can, if needed, deploy hundreds of thousands of troops in Europe. And the remaining air bases, with all personnel and infrastructure - Mihail Kogălniceanu, Câmpia Turzii, and others - can be used at any time. So we must not panic; things are moving forward. We need to worry and increase the response capacity of the Romanian army.
Americans are not withdrawing troops for the Russians
Iulian Fota, security expert, on Antena 3:
We are undermining our country and weakening it, then we hope others will save it for us. Things don't work like that and won't continue to work that way because times are changing, the era is changing. Are we surprised that the Americans are withdrawing troops? Where does this expectation come from, for them to increase? Are we not looking at what is happening at the White House in the USA, in the transatlantic relationship? We cannot be so disconnected from reality.
The days when others, Americans, French, defended us are over. They do everything they can and stand by us, but they cannot compensate for the effort.
Americans are not withdrawing troops for the Russians, let's be clear. Obviously, the Russians will be pleased, they will like it. A lesser American presence is good for them. But the Americans are withdrawing troops because they can no longer sustain the effort as before. The world is too complicated, too complex, the threats are significant.
Transfer of responsibility
Iulian Chifu, internal politics analyst, for Mediafax:
The Trump Administration announced from the campaign period, not to mention from the installation moment on January 20, that there will be a realignment focusing primarily on China, but also Latin America. So it is not a new issue, on one hand.
On the other hand, we knew from the Biden administration period that 2027 is a moment when a number of projects targeting the Eastern flank and defense of Europe will end. So it is not just a strictly political issue, strictly related to the Trump administration.
Currently, we must adapt to the new structure at the ally level, that is, NATO. The operations assumed by the Alliance, which allow any change in the presence of American troops, in this case, to be supplemented by the presence of other allies to continue the mission established at the ally level. It is a transfer of responsibility, of responsibility for the defense of Europe, which was predominantly assumed by the United States and allies outside the European Union and which now, to a greater extent, after the 2% increase 3.5 plus 1.5 according to the Hague Summit, is shifting to the European allies themselves.
A decision that is not surprising
Dan Luca, strategic communication and European policies expert, for Mediafax:
This decision is not surprising, but it must be analyzed in the broader context of European strategic autonomy and the strengthening of the defense capabilities of the European Union. Over time, the Union has adopted a comprehensive approach in the defense field, balancing cooperation with NATO with the development of its own capabilities, and today the strategic direction is becoming clearer.
This allocation represents a strategic opportunity for Romania, which can become a significant regional actor if it manages to attract investments and clearly define its role in the European economy. In the current security context, it is essential that the development of the national defense industry - from ammunition and drone factories to advanced military technologies - be treated as a national priority, thus strengthening both Romania's strategic autonomy and its contribution to European security.
Romania remains a strategic point
Nicoleta Pauliuc, President of the Senate Defense Committee:
There is no vulnerability. The withdrawal of these soldiers from Romania is part of a reassessment, a repositioning of the United States' strategic positioning globally.
Within the Defense Committee, we have approved the acquisition of other military capabilities to ensure our security. We have increased the amount dedicated to military acquisitions to 2.5%, following the trend we agreed upon at the NATO level. Romania remains a strategic point, an important country on the Eastern Flank.
We are a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, we have a Strategic Partnership with the United States of America. In Romania, we also have the presence of other states in Cincu; we can talk about the development of the Mihail Kogălniceanu military base, infrastructure, acquisitions, military capabilities that provide us with even greater security. Here we see F35, Patriot, so all these capabilities, once again, send a strong signal: Romania is a secure state on the Eastern Flank, and the Black Sea remains a strategic point when it comes to security on the Eastern Flank and NATO.