DOD has growing awareness that assets in Europe offer US ‘a lot,’ ambassador says

U.S. combat operations against Iran have reinforced the Pentagon’s appreciation for its network of bases in Europe, the American envoy to NATO said this week even as Washington considers changes to its military footprint on the Continent.

Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said the value of certain installations is factoring into an ongoing Defense Department review about the size and scope of the military’s mission in Europe.

“One of the discussions we’re having right now is our European basing, what does the United States get out of that,” he said Tuesday as he singled out operations against Iran.

“We’re realizing, especially in Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury, that we get a lot out of our European basing,” Whitaker said during an appearance in Iowa with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Such bases enable U.S. forces to project power not just into the Middle East but also into the Pacific, he added.

Members of civil engineer squadrons from the 31st Fighter Wing and 110th Wing stand on the flight line at Aviano Air Base, Italy, June 24, 2026. U.S. combat operations against Iran have reinforced the Pentagon’s appreciation for its network of bases in Europe, American Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Sept. 23, 2026. (Sean Moriarty/U.S. Air Force)

The comments come as the Pentagon reviews its force posture in Europe, a move that has fueled questions about whether Washington will reduce troop levels or reposition some of the roughly 80,000 U.S. service members spread across the Continent.

U.S. defense officials briefed NATO allies on the review last month.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is considering various options related to U.S. European Command’s mission. One idea involves pulling as many as 40,000 troops from Europe, Reuters and NBC News reported last week.

The potential changes are connected to the Pentagon’s push to have European allies take on a much larger share of defense responsibilities.

A key reason for that, Whitaker said, is the inability of American forces to lead the way in simultaneous conflicts.

“The United States believed for a long time that we could fight a two-front war globally … and we’re kidding ourselves,” he said.

The issue of a two-front war has been a point of concern for commanders in Europe. EUCOM’s Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who also serves as NATO’s top military commander, last year issued a public warning about the possibility that Russia and China could coordinate military actions.

Whitaker echoed those sentiments.

“I completely agree with this idea of simultaneity, that a move by China in the Pacific would be preceded (by) or simultaneous with a move by Russia in Europe to try to freeze what the United States has in Europe,” he said.

In the coming months, the Pentagon is expected to announce the results of its force posture review.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said one of the factors in the deliberations is how allies line up with American defense priorities and how flexible NATO members are in granting access and overflight rights in a contingency.

During the recent operations in Iran, some allies such as Spain balked at having their country serve as a launchpad for operations in the Middle East. Italy also faced criticism from U.S. officials.

However, American bases in Germany, the United Kingdom, Romania and Greece all played big roles in Iran operations.

For the Pentagon, the ability of a base or unit to assist American operations beyond Europe could emerge as one of the main factors in determining what should remain on the Continent and what could be moved elsewhere. 

Speaking alongside Whitaker, Rutte talked up the role Europe plays in projecting American power, noting that thousands of sorties in support of the Iran war originated at allied bases.

“You could argue it would have been impossible to do Epic Fury without having Europe as a power projection platform for the United States,” Rutte said.