Romania offers to share costs of US troops and seeks more forces

Romania has offered to cover part of the cost of US troops on its territory in order to retain and expand their presence. President Nicușor Dan said this in an interview with the British newspaper Financial Times, cited on 12 November 2026 by 24 Chasa and the Romanian news agency News.ro.

Bucharest wants more forces and firepower

“We want more American forces and military capabilities with greater firepower,” Dan said, as quoted by 24 Chasa. According to the Romanian presidential administration, there are 1,172 US military personnel in the country, compared with around 1,700 previously.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan presented the proposal to Elbridge Colby during Colby’s visit to the region. Colby serves as US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Dan said he had proposed specific figures for both personnel numbers and cost-sharing.

The request goes beyond restoring previous troop numbers. It also includes strengthening combat capabilities, but without specified formations and weapons, the military effect cannot be assessed. The reduction in personnel numbers alone is also insufficient to calculate the change in combat capabilities.

The Polish example does not establish Romania’s price

The Romanian initiative is being compared with a Polish offer to fund the US presence. According to 24 Chasa and Nova Varna, Warsaw offered $15,000 a year per US service member. In its headline, News.ro suggests that the Romanian amount could be similar. This, however, establishes neither the size of Bucharest’s offer nor an agreed price.

The exact amount, types of expenditure, duration and funding mechanism are not yet known. Neither the number of additional personnel requested nor the specific capabilities have been announced, nor is it known whether Washington has accepted the proposal. This is a Romanian initiative, not an announced agreement or a decision on a new deployment. This is a developing story and further information may be added.

Bucharest cites Black Sea security as grounds for its request

Bucharest bases its request on Black Sea security, the war in Ukraine, drone incursions and threats to shipping. Dan describes Russia as the main threat to Romanian security and Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base near Constanța as strategically important to the US.

The Romanian defence and security website Defense Romania and Nova Varna place the proposal against the backdrop of reported plans by Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the US military presence in Europe. At the same time, Dan acknowledges that the high budget deficit limits Romania’s options, despite the gradual increase in its defence spending.

In Flank’s assessment, Bucharest is using its willingness to contribute financially as an argument for a more sustained US commitment in the Black Sea. For Bulgaria, the significance lies in the future composition and tasks of the forces in its neighbouring country, not just their numbers. A possible agreement to support the current contingent would have a different military effect from the deployment of additional combat capabilities.