The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, stated that the potential reduction of the American military presence in Europe was an expected step from Washington. This was reported by the radio station RMF24.
“It was predictable that the United States could withdraw troops from Europe, as Washington is increasingly focusing on the Indo-Pacific region and the Western Hemisphere,” Kallas said during a debate in the European Parliament about the reduction of American troop presence in Europe.
She reminded that the Pentagon had suspended the planned deployment of American troops in Poland and Germany, adding that this fits into a broader trend of US policy.
Europe must take responsibility for itself
Kallas urged Europe to take responsibility for its own security, including increasing defense spending, filling capability gaps, and boosting arms production. “All of this requires costs, but deterring aggression is cheaper than waging war,” she said.
As reported earlier, the Polish General Staff lost communication with the US regarding the cancellation of the rotation and was caught off guard. This was reported by Politico, citing sources in Warsaw.
In the opinion of the editorial board, Kaja Kallas's statements confirm that Europe is increasingly preparing for a scenario of gradual reduction of the American military presence on the continent. Against the backdrop of the global shift in US priorities towards Asia, European countries will likely need to accelerate the buildup of their own defense capabilities and reduce dependence on Washington in security matters.
