European intelligence agencies are concerned about the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from European Union countries in light of negotiations between the U.S. and Russia.
While U.S. President Donald Trump has not made any official statements regarding troop withdrawals, sources, citing information from BILD, report that intelligence services are considering this possibility.
The core of this move lies in the demands of Russian President Vladimir Putin, made in 2021, for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from all NATO countries that joined after 1990. Representatives of the security services from one Eastern European country told BILD that this could lead to a deterioration of the situation in Eastern Europe, as the departure of American troops could prompt Russia to extend its influence over the Baltic states and even trigger an armed conflict with Poland.
In countries bordering Russia, the presence of U.S. troops is viewed as a key factor in ensuring their independence, according to BILD sources. Furthermore, in Italy, there are concerns about the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Kosovo, which could increase tension in the Balkans, particularly with Serbia. German diplomats see this scenario as “quite realistic.”
According to the Financial Times, Vladimir Putin is seeking to reduce NATO’s presence in the former Soviet Union countries, and European officials fear that Trump may agree to these demands, possibly even exceeding them. Currently, the only U.S. bases that remain unaffected by these discussions are in Germany (Ramstein) and the United Kingdom.
