Trump Administration Rejects Plan to Reduce US Troops in Europe

The Trump administration has rejected a plan by Defense Secretary Pete Hegset to partially reduce the US military presence in Europe, following objections from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials. According to The Wall Street Journal, Hegset and his deputy Elbridge Colby had been actively advocating for a partial withdrawal from Europe in order to concentrate US resources in the Indo-Pacific region against China. The plan was to be announced at a high-level NATO military meeting in June. However, after being presented to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior security officials, the proposal faced objections and was withdrawn. Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the Defense Secretary's position was aligned with the President's goals and that Trump did not want to limit his decision-making authority. The number of US troops stationed in the region and the defense spending of allies are expected to be major agenda items at the upcoming NATO summit.