Kathrine Frich
As the United States prepares to pull a key combat brigade out of Eastern Europe, veterans and security experts warn that the move risks undermining NATO’s deterrence at a critical time.
They argue that drawing down forces while Russia escalates activity near the alliance’s borders could embolden the Kremlin and leave allies exposed.
Growing unease
According to reporting by Kyiv Post, the Trump administration’s plan to withdraw a rotating US Army brigade from Romania and other NATO countries has triggered sharp criticism from former service members.
The decision ends the deployment of the 101st Airborne Division, stationed near the Black Sea since 2022, just as Russian aggression in the region has intensified.
The Pentagon described the move as a “strategic adjustment” meant to shift resources toward the Indo-Pacific.
However, critics quoted by Kyiv Post and News.ro say the timing directly contradicts the administration’s “peace through strength” message and weakens NATO’s front line presence.
Veterans On Duty, a US advocacy group led by former military personnel, released a statement opposing the decision.
Its leader, Jeremy Hunt, a former Army intelligence officer who served in Eastern Europe, warned that the withdrawal “sends a disastrous signal” as Moscow tests NATO’s resolve.
“A key element in deterring Putin”
“It is a key element in deterring Putin, and the timing could not be worse,” Hunt told Kyiv Post. “In recent weeks, we have seen him testing the defenses of countries on his eastern flank.”
He said that maintaining a visible American presence is essential to deterrence. “It’s about being there to deter and reassure,” he said.
“I can’t think of another time when it would have been more important to show our allies in the region that we are here and that we are deterring Putin at a time when he is more aloof than ever in many ways.”
Tactical and symbolic
Hunt described the withdrawal as both a tactical mistake and a symbolic retreat. He said the US presence in Eastern Europe has long served as a training force for allied troops and a visible warning to Moscow.
“When we were training Ukrainian forces in 2016, it wasn’t just about tactics,” he said. “It was a signal to Putin that the US remained firm regarding the sovereignty of its allies.”
Now, he warned, the drawdown sends the opposite message. “We are relaxing our vigilance at a time when Putin is bolder than ever,” he said.
A region on edge
The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will return to Kentucky and will not be replaced.
Pentagon officials have said troop numbers in Poland and the Baltic states will remain the same, but European sources told Kyiv Post that reductions are also expected in Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia by mid-December.
In recent weeks, NATO members such as Romania, Poland and Estonia have reported increased incursions by Russian drones and aircraft.
Hunt said these incidents underline “the immediate nature of the threat” facing the alliance.
He added that Romania and Poland, both heavily involved in NATO’s defensive operations, may now question Washington’s long-term commitment.
“When we start withdrawing brigades, allies naturally ask: is this the beginning of something bigger? Is this a signal that more will follow?” he said.
“We cannot afford this kind of uncertainty on NATO’s eastern flank, not now.”
Political fallout
The Pentagon has promised to clarify its decision in the coming weeks, but criticism is mounting on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers from both parties have warned that the move “sends the wrong signal to Russia” and “undermines deterrence at a critical time.”
Some administration officials privately argued that European militaries are now stronger than they were before Russia’s full-scale invasion, suggesting that the US can “pass the baton.”
Hunt acknowledged the improvements but rejected the reasoning.
“I applaud our European allies, especially Romania, for increasing defense spending and investing in their militaries,” he said.
“Stronger allies are not a reason to withdraw, but a reason to double down on the partnership.”
Sources: Kyiv Post, News.ro, HotNews.ro
