Romania and NATO allies were notified of U.S. plans to cut the number of troops stationed on Europe's eastern flank including soldiers who were to be stationed at Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, the defense ministry in Bucharest said on Wednesday.
Washington's European allies have been told previously by the administration of President Donald Trump that they will need to take more responsibility for their own security as the United States focuses more on its own borders and the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite worries on NATO's eastern flank about the potential scaling back of the American presence in the region at a time when Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine, Trump said in September as he met his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki, that Washington would maintain its military presence in Poland and may even increase it.
The Romanian defense ministry said on Wednesday: "The American decision is to stop the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries."
It added the decision was expected given changes in Washington's priorities, but that roughly 1,000 U.S. troops will continue to be stationed in Romania.
"The decision also took into account that NATO has consolidated its presence and activity on the eastern flank which enables the United States to adjust its military posture in the region," the Romanian ministry said. It did not specify how many U.S. troops will be withdrawn.
There was no immediate comment from NATO.
A new U.S. intelligence assessment says Russia shows no signs of compromise on Ukraine, with Putin more determined than ever to win the war despite major losses.
The report, shared with Congress, concludes Putin is dug in and focused on claiming Ukrainian territory to justify the costs.
Hal Turner Personal Analysis
The end is nigh for Ukraine. The refusal of the US to supply Tomahawk Cruise Missiles was the first real indication. Now, this drawdown of US troops seals the deal.
I have long reported that Ukraine has "no chance" of prevailing in its war with Russia, and long warned that continued US escalation of that conflict could draw the US into the actual combat as a "party to the conflict."
I have repeatedly urged the US to put a stop to its actions because, in the final analysis, Russia is right in what it is doing with Ukraine; the US and NATO are wrong. Russia has made clear it will not allow Ukraine to become part of NATO and thereby place US missiles on Ukrainian soil which have a 5 minute flight time to Moscow.
Ukraine argues that it is sovereign and it can join whatever military bloc it chooses. Russia points to the Budapest Memorandum and replies "no."
- Security Assurances: In exchange for giving up its nuclear arsenal, Ukraine received assurances against the threat or use of force against its territorial integrity or political independence.
- Nuclear Disarmament: Ukraine transferred all nuclear warheads on its territory to Russia for dismantlement, completing the process by 1996. Those nuclear weapons were not Ukraine's; they belonged to the former Soviet Union and Moscow is the legal successor to the former Soviet Union and paid all of Ukraine's former Soviet Debt. So those weapons factually belonged to Moscow, not to Ukraine.
- NPT Accession: Ukraine formally joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapon state on the same day the memorandum was signed.
- Signatories: The memorandum was signed by Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. France and China also provided separate assurances.
Years later, Ukraine changed its position and wanted to join NATO. That change violated the Budapest Memorandum because joining NATO would mean Ukraine is no longer 'Neutral." Russia said "no." Ukraine replied "We are sovereign, we will do as we please."
Russia responded, "If Ukraine joins NATO, there will be American missiles on Ukraine soil with a 5 minute flight time to Moscow. No nation can defend itself from missiles which take off and impact target within 5 minutes. You cannot join NATO." Ukraine responded "We are sovereign, we will do as please."
So Russia said "Oh yea? Here. Meet the Russian Army." Suddenly, Ukraine found out that being "sovereign" does NOT mean they can do as they want when it comes to pointing missiles at other countries.
Ukraine squealed and claimed Russia was engaged in "unprovoked aggression." It wasn't unprovoked. It was deliberately provoked.
NATO, trapped in an echo chamber of its own propaganda, decided that it could somehow supply Ukraine to fight-off the Russians. But whatever weapons systems, intelligence, and aid NATO provided, was chewed up and spit out by the Russian Army.
The NATO high-tech, "wonder weapons" are all foiled by Russian electronic warfare.
The magnificent M1A1 Abrams tanks, are now sitting all over the battlefield as burned-out hulks. Some even towed back to Moscow, and put on display for Russians to see how well their army is doing.
In the latest dead body exchange between Ukraine and Russia, the Russians returned the dead bodies of 1,000 Ukraine soldiers. Ukraine returned the bodies of 31 Russians. 1000 dead Ukrainians to 31 dead Russians. That . . . . . that right there . . . . . proves how badly the war is going for Ukraine.
Apparently, the US now realizes this entire Ukraine escapade was a fool's errand and is easing itself out of the conflict. Europe, however, is in full-blown military suicide mode; fixing to fight Russia directly. But Europe only feels emboldened because US troops are there. Now, those US troops are leaving.
As the US draws-down its troop presence, Europe will see exactly how weak it actually is, and hopefully come to its senses.
Unless, of course, some moron somewhere, carries out a FALSE FLAG attack, blames Russia, and thereby starts World War 3.
We are living in a very dangerous time. One wrong move, and humanity will be in the biggest, most destructive war in the history of human existence.
