U. S. Lawmakers Push Back on Troop Reduction Plans in Europe

Top Republicans in Congress are not happy with the Pentagon's plan to cut down the number of U. S. troops in Eastern Europe. They think it's a bad idea, especially since Russia has been acting aggressively in the area. Senators Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers released a statement saying they strongly disagree with the Pentagon's decision. They believe that reducing troops right now could make Russia think the U. S. is not serious about defending its allies. The lawmakers also pointed out that the Pentagon did not talk to Congress before making this decision. They think that's a big mistake, especially since both parties in Congress have said they don't want to see fewer troops in Europe. Romania is one of the countries that will be affected by this change. Right now, there are about 1, 000 U. S. troops stationed there. Romania has been a strong ally to the U. S. and has spent a lot of money on its own defense. Wicker and Rogers praised Romania for being a good partner and said the U. S. should keep a strong presence there. They also think the U. S. should maintain its current troop levels in Poland and the Baltic states. Some people think this disagreement shows that there are different opinions within the Republican Party about how much the U. S. should support NATO. Others argue that the Pentagon's plan is just a way to shift focus to other parts of the world, like the Indo-Pacific region. The Pentagon has said that this change does not mean the U. S. is pulling out of Europe or NATO. They think it shows that European countries are becoming more capable of defending themselves. But Wicker and Rogers are not convinced. They think the timing of this decision is bad, especially since the U. S. is trying to pressure Russia to make peace in Ukraine. They believe that now is not the time to send a message of weakness to Russia.