Romania's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that some US troops rotated out of the country would not be replaced, as the US plans to cut the number of troops stationed on NATO's eastern flank in Europe. 

The move would impact a force including soldiers stationed at Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, according to authorities in Bucharest.

"The American decision is to stop the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries," the Defense Ministry said.

Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu also noted how overall troop numbers on NATO's eastern flank would remain higher than before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even after the changes.

The EU and NATO member shares a 650-kilometer (roughly 400-mile) border with Ukraine and has faced several Russian drone incursions in recent months.

US officials confirmed the plans but said the changes were a part of Washington's longstanding and bipartisan plans to "pivot to Asia," as well as a sign of improved European readiness in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

US Army calls plans 'a positive sign' of increased European capability

"This is not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO and Article 5," the US Army in Europe and Africa, headquartered in Gemany, said in a statement, referring to NATO's mutual defense clause.

"Rather this is a positive sign of increased European capability and responsibility," it said.

The military said that around 1,000 US troops would remain in Romania, compared to an estimated 1,700 in April of this year.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker similarly said the plans showed how Romania and other NATO allies were increasing defensive capacities of their own, as Europe seeks to bolster its capabilities amid the war in Ukraine.

"During 20 plus years as a NATO Ally, Romania has consistently partnered with the United States to meet our common defense objectives," Whitaker said. "That partnership remains stronger than ever." 

German defense analysts see 'no reason to panic'

Depending on operations and exercises, the US typically has somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 troops stationed in Europe at any given time, including around 9,000 soldiers at the Ramstein headquarters in western Germany.

Wednesday's headlines, of course, caught the eye of defense policy commentators in Germany, with German former ambassador to the United States and ex-chair of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger saying the announcement was "no reason to panic." 

Defense analyst, author and podcaster Carlo Masala at the Bundeswehr University Munich responded to Ischinger, saying: "I share your evaluation. But what we both do not know: is there more to come?" 

Successive US administrations, at least since Barack Obama if not before, have spoken of plans and the tactical imperative to pivot some of the country's military resources to the Indo-Pacific region. 

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto noted this in an interview with Sky, "The US is concerned about competition with China, and Europe must generate its own defense."

However, word of such plans during a Trump White House can generate slightly more uncertainty — given the unpredictable president's past and sometimes conflicting comments on NATO, European military spending, Ukraine and Russia.

Edited by Sean Sinico