Europe Looks To Strengthen Its Defense As U.S. Reduces Presence Abroad

BusinessAerospace & DefenseEurope Looks To Strengthen Its Defense As U.S. Reduces Presence AbroadByMark Temnycky,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark Temnycky is a freelance writer focused on defense and energy Follow AuthorMay 19, 2026, 06:00am EDTRomania's President Nicusor Dan (C) flanked by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C-R) and Poland's President Karol Nawrocki (C-L) pose for a family picture with (1st row from L) Latvia's President Edgars Rinkevics, Estonia's President Alar Karis, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, Czech Republic's President Petr Pavel Slovakia's President Peter Pellegrini, and (2nd row from L) Hungary's Ambassador to Romania Kissne Hlatki Katalin, Iceland's Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Benedikt Arnason, Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finland's President Alexander Stubb, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno, Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, Bulgaria's Permanent Representative to NATO Nikolay Milkov during the summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) and the Nordic countries at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, Romania on May 13, 2026. The event is under the overarching theme of 'Delivering More for Transatlantic Security' and will focus on transatlantic security and NATO's forthcoming summit in Ankara. The B9 format, also known as NATO's Eastern Flank, includes Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. (Photo by Mihai Barbu / AFP via Getty Images) / ADDING NAMESAFP via Getty ImagesEarlier this month, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from German...