leadnews.WASHINGTON, United States, May 20, 2026 (AFP) – The Department of Defense said Tuesday it was reducing the number of US troop brigades in Europe from four to three, taking the deployment back to 2021 levels, as Washington pressures the continent to do more for its own defense.

The Pentagon “has reduced the total number of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) assigned to Europe from four to three,” it said in a statement. A BCT comprises 4,000-4,700 personnel, according to a Congressional report.