Twenty U.S. congressmen write to Pentagon's Hegseth challenging decision to withdraw hundreds of troops from Romania

The decision of the U.S. Department of Defense to withdraw 700 troops from Romania undermines the U.S. commitments to Europe and the North Atlantic Alliance and President Donald Trump's own stated goal of achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, 20 American congressmen argued in a letter sent to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Thursday.Since February 2022, Vladimir Putin has waged a brutal war of aggression in Ukraine. In response, the U.S. has led a global alliance that has strengthened Ukraine's defenses while reinforcing NATO's resolve and capacity to defend against a variety of Kremlin hybrid and kinetic attacks, the letter says, and goes on to note that most recently, Russian drone incursions into Poland, overflights of Estonia and Romania, and Moscow's use of hybrid warfare against NATO demonstrate that this threat remains persistent and acute.When NATO has reinforced its deterrence, including by agreeing to a 5 percent GDP target for defense spending, "Romania has consistently met NATO's requirements, and has been a robust and fully capable host" for the U.S. military.In addition to its contributions to the defense of the Black Sea and hosting the U.S. Aegis Ashore missile defense detachment, Bucharest has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to supporting NATO's collective defense, the bipartisan group of U.S. congressmen emphasizes in the letter.The congressional lawmakers believe that as the U.S. administration seeks to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, it is vital that the U.S. shows strength in the face of the Russian aggression.The withdrawal of hundreds of troops from NATO's eastern flank, while the war in Ukraine is in full swing, undermines bipartisan hopes for an end to the war in Ukraine on Ukraine's terms. This decision provides additional ammunition to the Kremlin, which seeks to show that the United States is retreating from Europe precisely when Ukraine and Europe most need continued U.S. support, the signatories of the letter to the Pentagon chief emphasize.We strongly urge a reconsideration of this decision and an explanation to Congress and the relevant committees of how the Pentagon intends to strengthen the transatlantic relationship and continue its commitments to the NATO alliance, the 20 American congressmen conclude their appeal.