The US ambassador to NATO rejects reports that up to 40,000 American troops could be withdrawn from Europe

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has rejected reports that the United States is preparing to withdraw between 25,000 and 40,000 troops from the European continent. He made the statement on Wednesday in Brussels, at a Euronews-organized conference on defense.

“These reports are false,” Whitaker said after US broadcaster NBC reported in mid-September, citing anonymous American officials, that Washington intended to significantly reduce its forces in Europe.

The ambassador said the plan had not yet been presented or finalized by the Department of Defense. He reiterated that the United States would remain committed to Europe, but had begun reassessing its military presence and the value of its bases on the continent.

The process was launched in late July and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The review concerns how US forces are deployed worldwide, amid global challenges.

Several European countries fear that a significant reduction would undermine NATO’s deterrence against Russia. Washington has already announced adjustments to its presence in Germany and criticized countries that have restricted US forces’ access to NATO bases.