Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 8: As the Pentagon conducts a strategic review of its global military presence under President Donald Trump’s administration, the top US general in Europe, general Christopher Cavoli, has urged lawmakers to retain current American troop levels on the continent.
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Cavoli stressed the need to preserve the current deployment of over 100,000 US troops stationed in Europe, citing continued threats and instability, particularly in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“It’s my advice to maintain that force posture as it is now,” general Cavoli said, noting that since 2022, when an additional 20,000 troops were deployed to bolster NATO’s eastern flank, periodic reviews had been conducted, but none had warranted a drawdown.
"I have consistently recommended throughout that period to maintain the forces we surged forward, and I would continue to do so if asked," he added.
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth has indicated to European counterparts that the American presence should not be taken for granted, fueling concern across NATO members about the future of transatlantic security.
Katherine Thompson, currently overseeing international security affairs at the Pentagon, echoed that the ongoing review would be aligned with ‘Trump’s stated interests.’ Any final decision, she confirmed, would ultimately rest with Secretary Hegseth and President Trump.
Amidst increasing European anxiety over Trump's signals of disengagement and a potentially softened approach toward Moscow, bipartisan lawmakers in the US have voiced opposition to any troop reduction. They argue that a robust US presence remains critical in deterring further Russian aggression and maintaining NATO’s deterrence posture.
Cavoli clarified that while troop movements within NATO’s eastern regions are routine, there are no current plans to relocate forces away from their primary bases.
Europe’s reliance on US military backing, long seen as a pillar of regional stability, has come under scrutiny as geopolitical tensions surge, prompting fresh debates over the future of NATO and collective defense.
Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in massive humanitarian and infrastructural devastation, deepening the rift between Moscow and the West and reshaping global security discourse.
With the Pentagon’s strategic posture review still underway, stakeholders across the Atlantic are watching closely for policy shifts that could redefine the security architecture of Europe.