The United States is expected to announce a limited reduction of its forces stationed in Europe at a NATO defence ministers’ meeting on Thursday, while also unveiling plans for a new Arctic Sentry military mission to counter rising threats from Russia and China.
United States Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby will represent the US at the gathering, deputising for Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, who will not attend. Sources say Colby will reassure European allies that the majority of US troops currently stationed in Germany, Italy, and along NATO’s eastern flank will remain in place.
Currently, around 80,000 to 90,000 US personnel are deployed in Europe at any given time, the highest figure since the Cold War. This number increased following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
The announcement is likely to come as both a relief and a surprise to European partners, who had anticipated a more significant drawdown as Washington shifts attention to other regions. Colonel Martin O’Donnell, spokesperson for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told Euronews, “The US is committed to NATO. They have made that abundantly clear. They have also made clear that Europe must step up, and they are, but more needs to be done to meet agreed capability targets.”
Colby’s appointment last year raised concerns among European allies, as he is known for advocating reductions in US troop deployments in NATO territories and for a strategic pivot toward the South China Sea. Many European officials feared sudden withdrawals could leave the continent exposed amid ongoing Russian hybrid threats.
The planned troop announcement coincides with NATO’s restructuring of its command system, shifting operational responsibilities onto European allies. The UK will assume command of Joint Force Command Norfolk, Italy will take charge of Joint Force Command Naples, and Germany and Poland will rotate command of Joint Force Command Brunssum. NATO officials note that all three commands, which coordinate responses in crises, will now be led by Europeans.
At the same meeting, NATO will outline the Arctic Sentry mission, aimed at strengthening security across the High North. The initiative will cover space, cyber, land, sea, and air domains to counter Russia’s military expansion and growing Chinese influence in the region.
US Ambassador to NATO Mathew Whitaker said the mission reflects the Arctic’s increasing strategic importance. He added that “all NATO assets” will be needed to secure the region and noted that Greenland’s potential independence could pose challenges for NATO membership. UK Defence Secretary John Healey described Russia as the greatest threat to Arctic security since the Cold War, highlighting the reopening of former bases.
A senior NATO diplomat emphasised the need for early, visible deterrence, drawing parallels with last year’s Baltic Sentry mission, which improved allied readiness in strategically critical areas.
