Trump could pull 10,000 troops from Russia's doorstep

US Presidient Donald Trump is considering withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Russia's doorstep, according to Pentagon sources. The move would halve the temporary surge of 20,000 American troops deployed by Firmer President Joe Biden in 2022 to bolster NATO's eastern flank following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. US forces are currently stationed across Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states to deter further Russian aggression and reassure allies bordering in the region.

During US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, Moscow allegedly demanded a full NATO withdrawal from Eastern Europe as a condition for normalising relations. Russian premier Vladimir Putin has cited NATO's expansion and Ukraine's potential membership as pretexts for its war, with Putin claiming that NATO's presence near Russian borders justifies continued military action.

The potential drawdown comes amid renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for NATO allies to increase their defence spending and assume more responsibility for Europe's security.

Pentagon officials have told Poland that the US has not made a final decision on reducing its military presence in Europe, but sources say the figure could be as much as half of the surge force,

At the same time, the US Army Europe and Africa Command announced the redeployment of military personnel and equipment from Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, a key Ukraine aid hub in southeastern Poland, to other bases in the country.NATO Secretary-General Mark Ruttehas warned that any reduction would be done in close coordination with European allies.

European allies have urged the US to coordinate any reduction of its military presence on the continent, warning that an uncoordinated withdrawal could destabilise NATO's eastern defences.

Former US President Barack Obama originally criticised European members for not spending enough on their own defence in 2014, and NATO member states agreed that they would each reach the minimum defence spending threshold of 2% of GDP.

But Europe listened, and today only seven out of 30 European members - including small states like Belgium and Luxembourg - have yet to hit the mark.

A proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to separate defence from debt caps was hoped to allow others, which include Italy and Spain, to borrow more to spend on defence.

But US President Donald Trump has now said spending should reach a minimum of 5% GDP if the US, which wants to pivot away from Europe to focus on the threat from China threat, is to remain committed to European defence.

This is viewed by some experts are unrealistic and deliberately designed to give Trump an exit strategy from Europe.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump still supports NATO but expects allies to deliver "a realistic pathway" to reduce reliance on American taxpayers.

However, concerns persist that US support may decline faster than Europe can ramp up its own capabilities.

With normal communication channels disrupted, some fear they may learn about US troop reductions through the media rather than through a diplomatic notice.

'You can argue that 10,000 troops can be replaced fairly quickly and, of course, it means that the US is still in NATO," said Justin Crump, of Sibylline strategic risk group.

"But it would be a highly symbolic move given the context of Trump wanting to prioritise conflict with China which, after the latest tariff rounds, is more likely now than it was before."

He added: "The key question is whether the US will leave pre-positioned equipment in place, or whether is that is all going home, too. Because that's a different matter.

"If equipment is taken too, then it will be much more difficult to replace these troops quickly ."