Eastern allies warn Trump not to pull US troops as Russia tests NATO, urges tougher posture

Russian air and drone incursions along NATO’s eastern flank have intensified calls for keeping U.S. troops in place, as leaders from Estonia, Lithuania and Romania warned that Vladimir Putin is pushing the limits and will believe only what he sees from allied defenses.

Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna told Fox News Digital that the alliance must harden its posture, moving from air policing to integrated air and missile defenses, sharpening rules of engagement and sustaining U.S. troop rotations. “We hope U.S. troops remain in the region. Their presence secures peace and sends a clear signal,” Tsahkna said. “Putin understands only the language of strength. His goal is the restoration of the Soviet empire.”

This month, Russian drones were detected in Polish and Romanian airspace, while Russian missile-carrying MiG-29s briefly crossed into Estonian territory. For the ninth time this year, Russian jets were spotted inside the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. Ahead of a broader U.S. force-posture review, Lithuania’s foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys said deterrence must be visible, not theoretical. He told Fox News Digital that “this presence makes the difference. It forces Russia to change its calculations.” “Russia they have to see. They don't believe in our plans and our protocols. They believe in what they see. So they are crossing our airspace, and they see no reaction,” Budrys said. “With the presence of the troops. When they see that they are stationed there, and they’re training. And they’re interacting with the local armed forces. For them, this is the message that, okay, we are not getting in there.”

In Romania, Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu echoed the Baltic caution, stressing that security on the eastern flank also serves U.S. interests. “Every country sets its priorities, but the security of the eastern flank also serves U.S. security and financial interests — there’s real potential for joint investment, cyber, energy and infrastructure if security is ensured,” she said. Țoiu noted Romania has authorized its forces to shoot down Russian drones that threaten its territory and economy, and highlighted Bucharest’s bid to become a regional energy supplier by expanding nuclear power with U.S. support and tapping Black Sea natural gas fields.

Three Russian MiG-29 fighters entered Estonian airspace last week, underscoring the immediacy of the threat in the region. Washington’s role remains central, with roughly 80,000 American troops stationed across Europe, down from about 105,000 just after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thousands rotate through Lithuania, Estonia maintains a persistent U.S. contingent, and Romania hosts roughly 3,000 personnel, according to U.S. State Department figures. Despite questions about a potential drawdown, U.S. officials have signaled continued commitment to the alliance’s eastern flank.

U.S. officials have also pressed allies to bear a greater share of the burden in Europe as Washington weighs a new national security strategy prioritizing homeland defense. In recent days, NATO and U.S. leaders have pushed back against the idea of a rapid withdrawal, arguing that a diminished U.S. footprint would embolden Moscow and undermine Article 5 commitments. U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz pledged that Washington would defend “every inch” of NATO territory, while Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said that unity within NATO has never been clearer and that Trump’s rhetoric on burden-sharing was moving toward a 5 percent target for defense spending, signaling a stronger posture.

To illustrate how the alliance is adapting, NATO launched Eastern Sentry on September 12, 2025. The multidomain mission, led by Allied Command Operations, brings together fighter jets, naval assets and counter-drone systems from multiple allies to plug gaps and rotate forces across the eastern flank—from the Baltic states to the Black Sea. Unlike a static buildup, the mission is designed to adapt quickly to emerging threats and demonstrate flexible deterrence.

The warning from Eastern Europe comes as Romania positions itself as a strategic energy hub in the region. Bucharest has sought to diversify supplies and strengthen cyber and infrastructure ties with Western partners, signaling that security commitments in the east have broader implications for Western economies and energy security. With security at stake and demonstrable deterrence now a priority, the region’s leaders argue that combined military and economic measures are essential to prevent Russia from normalizing aviation and airspace violations.

The dialogue among European capitals reflects a broader debate in Washington about the right balance between sustaining a robust American presence in Europe and enabling European allies to shoulder greater responsibility. But the leaders interviewed emphasized that the cost of inaction would be measured not only in lost credibility for NATO’s deterrence but in the potential erosion of confidence among eastern flank countries that have long looked to Washington for protection against Moscow’s ambitions.

Meanwhile, the security environment continues to evolve. The Baltic and Black Sea regions have seen a series of incidents that underscore Moscow’s willingness to challenge alliance airspace and sovereignty. Analysts say the current provocations demand a credible, durable, and visible deterrent—one that makes adversaries reassess the costs of aggression and reinforces a sense of unity among NATO members. The Eastern Sentry mission, along with sustained allied rotations and real-time joint exercises, is intended to send that message both to Moscow and to partners watching from the region.

As officials weigh the next steps, they stress that any decision to shrink or expand force posture must be anchored in verifiable assessments of battlefield risks, alliance cohesion, and the ability to defend all NATO territory. The evolving posture plan, coupled with posturing on sanctions and energy policy, signals that the fight for credibility on Article 5 remains very much ongoing and closely tied to the alliance’s ability to project strength in both air and sea domains.