Romania Urges U.S. to Reconsider Troop Withdrawal Decision
Romania strongly opposes the United States’ plans to reduce the military contingent stationed on its territory and calls on Washington to reassess its decision to withdraw approximately 800 American servicemen from Romania.
According to Sorin Moldovan, the country’s Minister of Defense, this move could deepen Russian propaganda, which claims there is a split within NATO and could increase regional tensions.
Meanwhile, the U.S.
justifies its decision as a shift of focus toward domestic priorities such as border security and the Indo-Pacific region.
However, Romanian officials argue that this political signal might be unfriendly and could cause additional strain on NATO’s eastern flank, especially considering recent violations of airspace by Russia.
Alliance leaders and allies from the UK and Norway assert that this troop reduction does not significantly impact regional defense capabilities, but concerns remain among Ukrainian and American policymakers about potential political repercussions and Russian propaganda regarding divisions within NATO.
Romania’s defense minister emphasizes that security relies on the unity of allies and urges closer cooperation to counter Russian aggression, especially amid Moscow’s growing support from China, Iran, and North Korea.
He underscores that without steadfast allied backing, the security of the region could be jeopardized, and expresses hope for stronger collaboration to ensure the safety of NATO’s eastern flank.