Planned exit latest US move to scale back Washington’s military investment in Europe’s defence

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon plans to cut its participation in a range of Nato advisory groups, the latest sign of the Trump Administration’s drive to scale back the US military presence in Europe. Photo / Getty Images

The Pentagon plans to cut its participation in a range of Nato advisory groups, the latest sign of the Trump Administration’s drive to scale back the United States military presence in Europe, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.

The impending move affects about 200 military personnel and will mostly diminish US involvement in the alliance’s 30 Centres of Excellence, which seek to train Nato forces on key elements of warfare such as naval combat, these people said.

Rather than withdraw all at once, the Pentagon intends not to replace personnel as their postings end, a process that could take years, according to one US official familiar with the matter. US participation in the centres isn’t ending altogether, two officials noted.

The move has been under consideration for months, according to two US officials, one of whom said it is unrelated to US President Donald Trump’s escalating threats to seize the Danish territory of Greenland.

Trump’s provocations have drawn widespread condemnation from European leaders and many lawmakers in Congress, who fear the President risks causing irreparable and unnecessary damage to the Nato alliance.

Spokespeople for the Pentagon and nor Nato did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Under Trump, the US military has pulled back from Europe as the Administration presses allies there to take greater control of the continent’s collective defence.

Last year, for instance, the Pentagon abruptly announced it would withdraw a brigade of troops from Romania and cut security aid programmes to the three Baltic nations that border Russia, whose years-long invasion of Ukraine has spurred fears of a direct conflict between Nato and the Kremlin.

Under pressure from the Trump Administration, the alliance agreed last summer to surge defence spending to 5% of GDP over the next 10 years, including 1.5% dedicated to infrastructure and other civilian projects.

Lawmakers - including some key Republicans - objected to the Administration’s moves in Europe and are working to fund the impacted security assistance programmes despite the Pentagon’s directives.

Members of Congress also have passed legislation that requires the Pentagon to consult with them before making any major reductions to US military posture in Europe.

The law specifies that requirement would apply only if the overall US force posture in Europe were to fall below 76,000. It stands at roughly 80,000 now.

While the personnel eventually being withdrawn amount to a small share of troops the US stations in Europe, some current and former officials said the US pullout could have an outsize impact on the alliance by reducing valuable American military expertise.

“We have a lot of operational experience that some of our personnel contribute to these centres,” said Lauren Speranza, a senior Pentagon official during the Biden administration. “There would be a bit of a brain drain that would come with pulling US personnel out.”

- Susannah George and Michael Birnbaum contributed to this report.

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