The United States has announced plans to scale back its military presence along Europe’s eastern border with Ukraine, signaling a strategic pivot toward other global security priorities. Romania’s defense ministry confirmed the decision on Wednesday, noting that the rotation of a U.S. brigade with elements stationed across several NATO countries, including Romania, will cease. While approximately 1,000 U.S. troops will remain in Romania, this marks a reduction from the 1,700 personnel deployed there as of April. A brigade typically comprises 1,500 to 3,000 troops. The move reflects Washington’s increasing focus on the Indo-Pacific region, according to Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu, who emphasized that allied troop numbers in Europe will still exceed pre-2022 levels, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO has been strengthening its defensive posture on its eastern flank, deploying additional multinational battle groups to Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. A NATO official, speaking anonymously, downplayed concerns, stating that U.S. force adjustments are routine and that the American military presence in Europe remains significantly larger than in previous years. The official added that NATO and U.S. authorities are closely coordinating to maintain robust deterrence and defense capabilities.