US Cuts Troop Presence in Romania to Pre-War Levels Amid Lingering Election Controversy

Bucharest, Romania – The United States has reduced its troop presence in Romania from approximately 3,000 to 1,000 personnel, the Department of Defense announced on October 29. The drawdown affects rotational elements of the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base (MKAB) near Constanța on the Black Sea. The units are redeploying to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, without scheduled replacements. “This is not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO and Article 5,” the US Army Europe and Africa Command stated. Permanent US installations, including the Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense site at Deveselu and aviation detachments at Câmpia Turzii Air Base, remain fully operational and unaffected.

Romanian Official Response

Romanian officials described the move as routine. Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu told reporters in Bucharest that the reduction returns US presence to levels seen before Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “It is important to underscore that this is not a withdrawal of American forces, but rather the suspension of the rotation of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary,” Mosteanu said.

President Nicușor Dan, who assumed office in May 2025 following a contentious election rerun, posted on X: “The strategic infrastructure developed together at Deveselu, Câmpia Turzii, and Kogălniceanu will continue to be fully operational, American troops will continue to be stationed in these bases, and the transfer of military equipment will continue.” Romania has spent $2.7 billion upgrading MKAB and other facilities to host up to 10,000 allied troops by 2040.

Criticism from US Lawmakers

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from US lawmakers. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) issued a joint statement warning that the timing “undermines deterrence and risks inviting further Russian aggression.” They cited three unconfirmed Russian drone incursions into Romanian airspace in the past month, as well as Romania’s role in training Ukrainian F-16 pilots and facilitating Black Sea grain exports.

Background: Romania’s 2024 Presidential Election Crisis

The troop reduction occurs against the backdrop of Romania’s unresolved 2024 presidential election crisis, which exposed deep institutional and societal divisions. On November 24, 2024, populist candidate Călin Georgescu won 23% of the vote in the first round, outperforming all major party candidates. Georgescu, a former agronomist and vocal critic of NATO, the EU, and military aid to Ukraine, ran a campaign that officially reported zero euros in spending.

Court Annulment and Alleged Russian Interference

The scheduled December 8 runoff was abruptly halted when Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the entire election process. The court cited declassified intelligence from the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) alleging “aggressive hybrid attacks” by a foreign state actor—widely understood to be Russia.

The court ruled that allegations of interference compromised the “correctness and legality” of the vote under Article 146(f) of the Romanian Constitution. A full manual recount of 9.4 million ballots, ordered prior to the annulment, found no evidence of voter fraud or ballot tampering. No individual or entity has been convicted in a court of law for the interference. Prosecutors continue to investigate campaign financing and cybercrimes, but critics argue the intelligence was circumstantial and politically motivated.

Georgescu’s Response and Legal Actions

Georgescu and his supporters labeled the annulment a “coup d’état” orchestrated by Western-aligned globalists. In February 2025, Georgescu was charged with incitement against the constitutional order, promotion of fascist ideology, and false campaign declarations. He was placed under judicial supervision and barred from social media for 60 days. On March 9, the Central Electoral Bureau excluded him from the May 2025 rerun, a decision upheld by the Constitutional Court. The European Court of Human Rights rejected Georgescu’s January 2025 appeal for an interim measure to halt the new elections, deferring to national sovereignty. The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission later criticized the annulment process for lacking transparency and procedural fairness.

The 2025 Rerun Elections

The rerun elections were held on May 4 and May 18, 2025. George Simion, leader of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), won 41% in the first round. Nicușor Dan, the pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, secured 21% initially but won the runoff with 54%, aided by record diaspora turnout of 1.64 million votes. Overall turnout reached 65%, the highest in 25 years. Simion alleged fraud and filed a legal challenge, which was dismissed. The OSCE election observation mission described the process as “competitive” but “marred by hostile rhetoric, unregulated online campaigning, and persistent disinformation.”

Broader US Force Posture and NATO Context

The troop reduction is part of a broader US global force posture review initiated under the Trump administration. Pentagon sources indicate priorities are shifting toward the Indo-Pacific to counter China and toward Latin America for border security and counter-narcotics operations. Romania’s strategic value remains high—MKAB is 400 miles from Crimea and serves as a logistics hub for Black Sea operations—but rotational infantry units are being reallocated. NATO officials in Brussels are monitoring the situation. NATO officials stated that burden-sharing is increasing among European allies, pointing to France, Italy, and the UK stepping up rotations. Romania meets NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target and has committed to 2.5% in 2026.

Domestic Political Fallout and Public Opinion

Public opinion in Romania remains strongly pro-NATO, with polls showing over 70% support for the alliance. However, populist parties now hold nearly one-third of parliamentary seats, reflecting ongoing polarization. Georgescu, though barred from office, continues to frame the Dan government as “illegitimate” and hostile to national sovereignty. His supporters link the US troop cut to perceived punishment for Romania’s alignment with EU and NATO policies over populist demands. US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker reaffirmed bilateral ties in a statement on X, “Across NATO, Allies like Romania are demonstrating increased capability and responsibility. During 20 plus years as a NATO Ally, Romania has consistently partnered with the United States to meet our common defense objectives. That partnership remains stronger than ever. The United States remains committed to Romania—as a trusted NATO Ally, a vital strategic partner, and a driving force for security in Europe. Our strong presence in and enduring commitment to Europe remains steadfast, including support for Eastern Sentry.”

As Russian forces advance in eastern Ukraine, Romania stands at a crossroads. The troop drawdown is not a rupture, but a recalibration—one that underscores both the resilience of NATO’s eastern flank and the lingering fragility of democratic trust in a nation still healing from a constitutional crisis built on unproven allegations.