European Commission: Reduction of U.S. military presence will not affect EU defense projects

Spokespersons for the European Commission announced this at a briefing in Brussels, Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Of course, we take note of this announcement. This does not change, to be very clear, our plans when it comes to the defense roadmap that we have presented and the four essential flagships that are highlighted there including the Eastern Flank Watch," said spokesperson Thomas Regnier.

He added that the EU aims to launch the Watch in the first quarter of 2026, with certain elements of this defense project expected to become operational by the end of 2026, without providing further details.

When asked whether the U.S. drawdown on Europe's eastern flank would impact the practical work on the European defense roadmap, the spokesperson replied: "We work hand in hand now with our member states. We work hand in hand with Ukraine, and we also work hand in hand with our NATO partners, so one cannot be fully dissociated from the other, obviously. But when it comes to purely Europe's defense and to the roadmap we have here, our plan, our roadmap focuses on the work that we are doing now with our member states."

As for identifying gaps in defense capability, this work is also being carried out based on NATO's goals, he added.

European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, in turn, recalled the statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that "Europe must be responsible for its own defense."

He stressed that the role of the United States as a key partner in transatlantic and European security "remains unquestionable," while the EU is assuming greater responsibility for its own security.

At the same time, Reigner avoided giving a direct answer when asked whether the U.S. decision came as a surprise to the EU.

He said that it was no surprise how important the Eastern Flank Watch was for the Union or how essential it was to reinforce about 3,000 kilometers of the EU's eastern border. He added that the EU's work in this area was ongoing but refrained from commenting on U.S. announcements.

He noted that the EU valued its relationships with international partners, especially with like-minded ones, but reaffirmed that it had a clear roadmap for the Eastern Flank Watch, which it was developing together with member states and industry.

It was also reported that Romania's Ministry of Defense had confirmed that several NATO allies had been informed of U.S. plans to reduce the number of troops stationed on the eastern flank of Europe, including at Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. Meanwhile, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said that Warsaw had not received any information from Washington about a planned reduction of U.S. forces in Poland.

An unnamed NATO official told Reuters that adjustments to U.S. troop levels in Europe were not unusual and added that, even with the planned reduction, the American military presence in Europe would remain larger than it had been for many years.

NATO and U.S. officials were said to be in close contact regarding troop deployments following Romania's announcement that allies had been notified of the U.S. plans to reduce forces on Europe's eastern flank.