Iran war pushes Washington to reverse troop reduction on NATO’s eastern flank

The Iran war is pushing Washington to reconsider its plans to scale back military deployments on NATO’s eastern flank, with the United States requesting the additional deployment of fighter jets and troops to Romania’s Mihail Kogălniceanu air base, according to Digi24, quoting Romanian officials.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan convened a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) at the Cotroceni Palace on Wednesday, with the agenda including an “analysis of the temporary deployment on the territory of Romania of certain military capabilities”.

The current war needs have prompted a reassessment of Washington’s earlier strategy to reduce its military footprint on NATO’s eastern flank in Europe. At the end of October 2025, Romania was informed by the United States that it was resizing its troop presence in Europe, which also meant withdrawing part of the servicemen deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base.

From Romania to Slovakia: U.S. military downsizing raises concerns across NATO’s east

According to the Romanian Presidential Administration, the CSAT meeting agenda also includes “the situation in the Middle East and the implications for Romania”, as well as “assessing the impact of events in the Middle East on the oil market in Romania”.

Retired General Virgil Bălăceanu said Washington intends to send military aircraft and additional troops to Romania, noting that the United States is applying “the laws of armed struggle” in its war with Iran. He argued that Washington made a mistake when it decided to withdraw part of its troops from the Mihail Kogălniceanu base.

“The alignment of U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf, Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan is under threat from Iranian strikes. Strategically, for force projection, the United States will absolutely need a second alignment of bases, and the only available ones are in Europe. We are now talking about Mihail Kogălniceanu. In fact, the United States must understand the importance of Europe, at least in terms of projecting American force into the Middle East. The withdrawal of American soldiers from the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base was not the best solution,” the general said.

Former Romanian foreign minister Adrian Cioroianu said Romania’s strategic location could explain Washington’s renewed interest in the base. “This reflects the value of our position on the map and the strategic partnership with the United States, concretely manifested through the Kogălniceanu base. It suggests that the US is preparing for the possibility of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East,” Cioroianu said.

He added that Romania’s proximity to the conflict zone could turn the base into a key logistical hub.

“Our base is relatively close to this area and can be used if the conflict with Iran continues or expands in the foreseeable future. It has to do with our position on the map and the current conflict,” the former foreign minister said.

US troop reductions

In October last year, the United States announced it would withdraw part of its military presence from NATO’s eastern flank – from a level of around 1,800–2,000 troops stationed in Romania to a presence of roughly 1,000 soldiers. Even after this reduction, the current level of US military presence in Romania remained higher than before February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine.

At present, around 700–800 US troops are stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base near the Black Sea, which continues to be used by the US Air Force depending on operational requirements.

Another 200 troops are stationed at the Aegis Ashore missile defence base in Deveselu in southern Romania, where a radar system intercepting ballistic missiles from Iran has been operational since 2016. Russia initially claimed that the facility was aimed at it. A further 100 troops operating MQ-9 Reaper drones are deployed at the Câmpia Turzii air base in central Transylvania.

Romania hosts a number of European military contingents. Altogether, American and European troops stationed in the country number close to 3,500, though the figure fluctuates depending on exercises and military manoeuvres.

In neighbouring Bulgaria, around 250 US troops are deployed and their number has not been reduced. They are also part of NATO’s multinational battle group stationed in the country, which numbers roughly 1,000 personnel.

Sources: Digi 24, Reuters, Mediapool, Hotnews

Caption: U.S. Army Europe and Africa Commanding General Gen. Christopher Donahue (center-left, with back) meets US helicopter pilots and instructors during his visit to the US Army garrison Black Sea, at the 57-th military airbase Mihail Kogalniceanu, near Constanta city, Romania, 25 November 2025. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT