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President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to withdraw 20,000 US troops from Europe and push NATO allies to shoulder a larger financial burden for the remaining American military presence on the continent.

Some shit you should know before you read: One thing President Trump has been consistent with is his demands that NATO allies significantly increase their defense spending and take on greater financial responsibility for hosting US troops. For over a decade, Trump has argued that American taxpayers should not bear the majority of the costs for stationing troops in foreign countries, particularly when these forces are there to provide peacekeeping and deterrence against threats like Russia. This position aligns with his earlier actions during his first term, such as pressuring South Korea in 2016 to pay a substantially larger share of the costs for US forces stationed there.

US MILITARY ABRAMS Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, participate in a live-fire tank shoot firing the first ever rounds fired by a U.S. M1A2 tanks in Bulgaria at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, June 25. Transported as part of a tank section from Germany to Bulgaria, the Abrams tank will be used by soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, alongside Bulgarian soldiers from the 6th Brigade Battle Group, during a live-fire exercise during Operation Speed and Power during Kabile 15 as part of Atlantic Resolve-South. Operation Speed and Power is a joint training exercise which demonstrates U.S. Army Europe's preparedness to deliver strategic effect in Atlantic Resolve-South by showcasing the freedom of movement to maneuver and fire M1A2 Abrams anywhere along the Eastern Flank. This ability enables the NATO allies to defend themselves against all threats, and shows that the alliance remains ready to defend itself anywhere at any time. (U.S. Army photos by Spc. Jacqueline Dowland, 13th Public Affairs Detachment)

What’s going on now: According to the Italian news outlet ANSA, President Trump is reportedly planning to withdraw 20,000 US troops from Europe, a reduction of approximately 20% of the current American military presence on the continent. The United States currently has around 100,000 troops deployed in Europe, with 65,000 stationed permanently and the rest rotating to support NATO’s eastern flank. These deployments were increased after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and were directed by the Biden administration.

Trump’s withdrawal plan would likely target rotational units, such as tank brigades deployed near Russia’s borders, which have been a critical component of NATO’s deterrence strategy since the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. Cuts could also affect key assets such as long-range artillery, warships, and Patriot missile defense systems, as Trump’s Pentagon has indicated an interest in reallocating these resources to counter growing security threats from China in the Pacific.

In addition to all of this, Trump is also preparing to demand that European NATO allies provide more funding for hosting US troops, arguing that the costs should not fall disproportionately on American taxpayers.

This demand follows his call for NATO member nations to increase their defense spending target from 2% of GDP to 5%, citing the need for a more equitable distribution of security costs. While countries like Poland have expressed support for higher contributions, other European nations remain hesitant, citing financial constraints and the general unpopularity of defense spending.

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