France Calls for Coordinated US Troop Withdrawal from Europe

France has called on the United States to ensure that any reduction of its military presence in Europe is carried out in a coordinated and structured manner, warning against sudden announcements that could destabilize NATO allies.

Paris expressed concern over recent US statements regarding potential troop and asset withdrawals from the continent, which have unsettled European partners and raised questions about long-term security planning within the alliance.

Speaking to Politico after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, French Deputy Defence Minister Alice Rufo said France wants any drawdown of American forces in Europe to be managed in a “organized, coordinated and effective” way to avoid operational gaps and political uncertainty among allies.

She stressed the importance of avoiding extremes in interpreting transatlantic relations, noting that fluctuations in US policy should not lead to either alarmism or complacency among European governments.

Rufo also suggested that US troop levels in Europe could eventually return to pre-2022 levels, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reshaped NATO’s security posture and led to a significant American military reinforcement on the continent.

She highlighted that one of the key challenges for European states would be compensating for critical US-provided capabilities, particularly strategic enablers such as air and sea transport, aerial refueling, intelligence systems and space-based assets.

However, she cautioned against attempting a direct replication of US military capacity, arguing that European forces operate under different strategic and operational doctrines.

Her remarks come amid heightened political friction between Washington and several European allies, including Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland, following critical statements from US President Donald Trump’s administration on burden-sharing within NATO.

Rufo also warned against internal divisions within Europe over defense policy, urging member states to avoid mutual accusations and focus instead on measurable military effectiveness rather than headline spending figures or political rhetoric.