Democrats Seek State Role in Europe Troop Review

Senate Democrats led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen are urging Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio to ensure that State Department officials are fully included in the Pentagon-led review of U.S. military forces in Europe. The lawmakers say U.S. ambassadors and chiefs of mission in affected countries have been excluded from consultations, despite the diplomatic consequences of changes to troop deployments and basing arrangements. The review, launched in June and expected to conclude by year’s end, is part of current President Donald Trump’s effort to have European allies assume greater responsibility for their defense. The senators warn that even modest force reductions could strain relations with NATO members—particularly Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which face intensified Russian hybrid activity—and leave diplomats to manage the fallout without having shaped the decisions. Supporters of the administration’s narrower process argue it allows faster action and limits leaks, while critics say it excludes essential diplomatic and allied perspectives.