“I have great relations with Europe,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked directly about potential troop cuts. He added that U.S. armed forces have seen record-high recruitment levels under his leadership.
The remarks follow the release of the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy, which outlines reduced U.S. support for Europe’s defense. Trump downplayed the document, saying he had increased European defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP. “They give us a lot of that money. We have the best military equipment, and we sell it to NATO,” he said.
Trump also issued a warning, saying Europe “must be careful,” claiming the continent has become “unrecognizable” due to migration and its shift toward renewable energy.
While Trump’s comments reaffirmed his public stance on maintaining current troop levels, they contrast with signals from senior officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Mark Rubio, as well as the administration’s National Security Strategy.
In October, the U.S. withdrew a rotational infantry brigade from Romania, prompting criticism from some Republicans in Congress. In December, lawmakers passed a defense spending bill that included provisions limiting the Pentagon’s ability to make drastic cuts to the U.S. military presence in Europe.
(jh)
Source: PAP