Congress is stepping up to ensure America doesn’t retreat from its global commitments in Europe and South Korea.
With the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) finalized by House and Senate negotiators, lawmakers are slamming the brakes on any Pentagon plans to slash U.S. troop numbers in these critical regions, locking in forces at roughly 76,000 in Europe and 28,500 on the Korean Peninsula unless strict conditions are met.
Reports had trickled out earlier this year about the Pentagon mulling over force reductions in both areas, even floating the idea of giving up the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) post at NATO—a position always held by an American general.
Adding fuel to allied concerns, the U.S. Army pulled a rotating brigade, mostly based in Romania, back home earlier this year, raising eyebrows about a possible broader drawdown on NATO’s eastern flank.
Thankfully, the NDAA, released on a recent Sunday evening, puts a hard stop to such moves, demanding that any reduction in Europe below 76,000 troops comes with a detailed assessment proving it won’t jeopardize U.S. or NATO security interests.
Over in South Korea, the bill mandates that troop levels stay above 28,500 unless the Pentagon can convince Congress that deterrence against North Korea won’t suffer, allies have been consulted, and a full national security justification is provided.
Beyond troop numbers, the legislation cements America’s grip on the SACEUR role, ensuring NATO’s top military post remains in U.S. hands, though some other senior NATO positions may be offered to European nations.
Interestingly, U.S. leaders have lately backed off from any talk of major cuts, with officials stating there are no near-term plans to downsize forces in Europe.
Still, during a meeting with European leaders last week, U.S. national security officials delivered a blunt message that Europe must gear up to shoulder more of NATO’s defense burden by 2027, according to sources familiar with the discussion.
Speaking on this shift, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson noted, “We’ve been very clear in the need for Europeans to lead in the conventional defense of Europe.”
While the commitment to NATO coordination is admirable, let’s be real—America can’t be the world’s babysitter forever, and it’s high time our allies step up without progressive excuses about shared burdens masking their own inaction.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down at the Reagan National Defense Forum, stating, “Model allies that step up, like Israel, South Korea, Poland, increasingly Germany, the Baltics and others, will receive our special favor.”
Meanwhile, the NDAA—a must-pass annual package setting the Pentagon’s budget and policy—also allocates $400 million for Ukrainian security assistance next year, with another $400 million over two years via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
One eyebrow-raising provision allows the Pentagon to reclaim undelivered equipment meant for Ukraine if it’s urgently needed for U.S. operations, a move prompted by earlier pauses in military aid shipments to Kyiv this year.
As the bill heads to a House vote this week, with hopes of landing on the president’s desk before Christmas, it’s clear Congress is sending a message: America’s global presence isn’t up for negotiation, but neither is our expectation that allies pull their weight in a world that’s anything but woke to real threats.
