Another Trump Gift to Putin

The Pentagon is considering a drastic plan to pull planes, ships, weapons and tens of thousands of U.S. troops from Europe, despite warnings from NATO allies about the growing threat of Russian aggression, according to seven current and former U.S. and Western officials.

The reduction could be roughly one-third of all U.S. troops in Europe, or about 25,000 — or it could be even larger, as much as half, or up to 40,000 troops.

If carried out, it would be the most significant scaling back of the 80,000-strong U.S. military presence in Europe since the aftermath of the Cold War in the 1990s. Such a withdrawal could radically reshape America’s relationship with its major allies.

Countries affected would likely include Germany, Italy and Spain, sources said. The three nations host the bulk of the U.S. troops in Europe, but leaders of all the countries have also clashed with President Donald Trump over the war with Iran.

The Pentagon announced a six-month review of the American military’s presence in Europe in June. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the supreme allied commander and the head of the U.S. European Command, is expected to provide his analysis to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today, sources said. The analysis will likely include four courses of action that could include cuts and possibly shifting some forces within Europe to countries on NATO’s eastern flank.