From Fox News: Congress is moving to limit the Pentagon’s ability to pull forces out of Europe and South Korea, easing concerns among allied governments.
The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, finalized by House and Senate negotiators and released Sunday evening, keeps force presence at roughly its current levels in both regions. It states that the U.S. cannot reduce its forces in Europe below 76,000 without submitting an assessment and certifying to Congress that such a move would not harm U.S. or NATO security interests.
The bill places restraints on reductions below 28,500 in South Korea. Any drawdown would require the Pentagon to assure Congress that deterrence against North Korea would not be weakened, confirm that allies were consulted, and provide both a national security justification and an assessment of regional impact.
The legislation also requires the U.S. to retain the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), NATO’s top military post, codifying into statute a role traditionally held by an American general.
However, the report notes that congress acted following speculation that the Pentagon had considered reducing forces in Europe and South Korea and even relinquishing the SACEUR position – but Pentagon leaders had already indicated that was off the table, even without congressional restrictions.
THIS!! The NDAA is out – all 3,086 pages of it
It includes sweeping limitation that explicitly prohibits obligation of funds to reduce number of U.S. Armed Forces permanently stationed or deployed in Europe below 76,000 for any period longer than 45 dayshttps://t.co/55Ewj8QXUy pic.twitter.com/pxeFQJRbjk
— Alex Raufoglu (@ralakbar) December 8, 2025
SACEUR STAYS AMERICAN: Defense bill codifies U.S. control of NATO’s top military post and restricts Pentagon’s ability to reduce forces in Europe and South Korea. https://t.co/hArMX7XjWw
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) December 8, 2025
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