On May 16, 2025, US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker said that the US administration would begin consultations with alliance allies on the possible withdrawal of US forces from European countries after the NATO summit scheduled for June 24–26 in The Hague. Speaking at a security conference in Estonia, Whitaker stressed that the discussions would take place within NATO, and all allies were "ready for this conversation." This was reported by Reuters, noting that a final decision on reducing the military presence had not yet been made. The statement caused a wide resonance, especially against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's demands to increase NATO countries' defense spending to 5% of GDP.

According to Whitaker, the US is seeking an "orderly" withdrawal of troops to avoid security gaps in Europe. He recalled that Washington has been advocating for a reduction in its military presence for over 30 years, while Trump insists on accelerating this process, saying: "Enough. It's happening now." At the same time, Whitaker assured that the US will remain a "great ally" in NATO and does not plan to completely leave the alliance. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), there are 70 to 90 US troops stationed in Europe, over 38 of which are in Germany, as well as significant contingents in Poland and Romania.

The context of the statement is related to Trump's pressure on European allies. According to Der Spiegel, Whitaker demands that NATO countries increase their defense budgets at every meeting in Brussels, threatening Trump's refusal to participate in the June summit. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte proposed a "two-stage plan" to increase spending from 2% to 5% of GDP, which will be discussed in The Hague. The summit, the first under Rutte's leadership, will be key to determining the future of the alliance, including issues of financing and support for Ukraine, which, according to Ansa, may not receive an invitation due to the US position.