Oleg Davygora21:31, 16.05.25

Whitaker noted that the US would discuss any changes in troops with allies to avoid any security gaps.

The United States will begin talks with European allies about reducing American troops in Europe by the end of this year, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said, Reuters reports .

Asked to comment on reports that the Trump administration was considering withdrawing troops from Europe, Whitaker said “nothing has been determined.”

“But as soon as we do that, we will hold these talks within the NATO structure. It will be determined after the summit, sometime at the end of the year, we will start these talks… All our allies are ready to do that,” he said, referring to the NATO summit in The Hague in June.

Whitaker noted that the US would discuss any changes in troops with allies to avoid any security gaps.

“The US has wanted (to reduce troops in Europe) for over 30 years, President Trump just said, enough is enough, it will happen, and it will happen now, it will be organized, but we will not tolerate any more delays in this situation… We just need to work out the practical consequences,” the ambassador explained.

Whitaker said the US is not leaving the alliance:

“The United States will remain in this alliance, and we will be a great friend and a great ally.”

He warned the European Union against restricting European defense procurement to companies from non-EU countries, saying it would undermine NATO interoperability, slow down Europe’s rearmament, increase costs and stifle innovation.

Withdrawal of US troops from Europe

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO allies in February that “harsh strategic realities do not allow the United States of America to focus primarily on the security of Europe.”

In March, The Atlantic reported that Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance complained about European allies in a chat room. Hegseth expressed his “disgust for European sleaze.”

Such comments have fueled European concerns about the US commitment to NATO, along with Trump’s threats not to defend members that spend too little on defense and his reluctance to continue supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion.

A study by the International Institute for Strategic Studies found that a hypothetical withdrawal of US troops from Europe would leave NATO members on the continent vulnerable to the Russian threat and face “tough choices” about how to fill huge gaps.

Importantly, the cost of a similar replacement of US equipment and personnel would be approximately $1 trillion over 25 years . This includes one-time procurement costs of between $226 billion and $344 billion – depending on the quality of the equipment being procured – and additional costs associated with military maintenance, personnel, and support.

(C)UNIAN 2025