The Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has denied rumors about a potential US troop withdrawal from the Baltic states. In a statement to Financial Times, he dismissed these claims, which were based on anonymous European sources. Pevkur emphasized that there has been no message from any US political or military officials regarding such plans. He also mentioned his recent conversation with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where no such topic was raised.

During a visit to Poland, Pevkur pointed out that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the efforts of Poland and the Baltic states. A battalion-sized US unit, about 600 soldiers, is stationed in Estonia, and they belong to the US corps in Poland. Pevkur argued that withdrawing troops from the Baltic states lacks military logic. From an optimistic perspective, there is no immediate need for such a move. The US has emphasized Europe’s future responsibility for its defense, suggesting a shift towards focusing on other priorities, like China.

Estonian Defense Minister: No Discussions on US Troop Withdrawal from the Baltics

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, from the Reform Party, has dismissed a claim published on Monday in the Financial Times. The article, citing anonymous European sources, suggested that the United States plans to withdraw its troops from the Baltic states.

“There is no point in getting caught up in rumors,” Pevkur said.

He emphasized that there has been no indication or message from any US source—political or military—that the US intends to leave the Baltic states. Pevkur also referenced a recent conversation with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during which the subject was not mentioned. In fact, during Hegseth’s visit to Poland, he praised the efforts of both Poland and the Baltic states.

Approximately 600 US soldiers—a battalion-sized unit—are stationed in Estonia. They are part of a US corps based in Poland. According to Pevkur, relocating troops from the Baltic states would lack military sense. From an optimistic viewpoint, withdrawing these forces is not a priority for the United States, as there is no immediate military or financial need for such a move.

Moreover, the United States has repeatedly, and especially last week, made it clear that Europe’s defense should increasingly become a European responsibility. Whether this is because the US intends to reallocate its forces to address challenges such as containing China, or for other reasons, the bottom line remains the same: Europeans must take care of their own defense.