The comprehensive defense bill that the U.S. Senate will vote on next week places restrictions on the Pentagon [Departament Wojny USA] in the event of a future reduction of US military forces in Europe. If the bill related to the annual budget is adopted – and all indications are that it will – it will mean a bipartisan brake on the actions of the Trump government. According to Republicans and Democrats, they could undermine US alliance commitments on the European continent.
The bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 312 to 112, states: “No amount appropriated under this Act or otherwise authorized for fiscal year 2026 may be used or expended to reduce the total number of service members stationed or permanently deployed within the area of responsibility of U.S. European Command for a period of more than 45 days to less than 76,000.” [żołnierzy]”.
The number of American soldiers currently stationed in Europe ranges from 80,000. up to 100,000, depending on whether rotational forces are taken into account. The military capabilities of American troops, especially in air defense and logistics, are considered crucial to European security because European countries are unable to fill these gaps.
