Romania confirmed that roughly 1,000 U.S. troops who rotated out of the country will not be replaced. The Romanian Defense Ministry called the move expected “given changes in Washington’s priorities.” The Pentagon insisted this is not “an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO.”

Washington, D.C.’s, troop cuts on NATO’s eastern flank have alarmed allies and U.S. officials alike. Top Republican lawmakers on the Armed Services Committee have openly opposed the move. They’re right to be concerned. Even if the change involves a small number of troops, it signals disengagement, which weakens America’s power projection.

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