NATO chief plays down U.S. withdrawal from Romania

6 NOVEMBER 2025

NATO head Mark Rutte shrugged off a U.S. decision to withdraw troops from Romania, after fears it could spell a broader disengagement by Washington.
Romania said the United States was pulling out troops from the country, which borders war-torn Ukraine, but that some 1,000 U.S. personnel are set to remain.
The withdrawal comes amid a review of U.S. military deployments worldwide that has intensified concerns about President Donald Trump’s commitment to European members of the U.S.-led NATO alliance.
The Trump administration has said it is considering shifting more forces to focus more on other challenges, such as China.
Mr. Trump has long accused NATO allies of not spending enough on defence — but the military alliance sought to win over the U.S. leader by pledging to ramp up expenditure.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

It is a political and military alliance.

Founded: 4 April 1949 (by the North Atlantic Treaty, also called the Washington Treaty).

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.

Members: 32 countries

Finland became NATO’s 31st member on 4 April 2023.

Sweden became NATO’s 32nd member on 7 March 2024.

Main Purpose: To ensure the collective defence of member countries.

Article 5: An attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

Article 5 has been used only once: after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

NATO played major roles in:

Ukraine (since 2014, and more after 2022).