NATO conducts large-scale combat drills in Romania as U.S. military stance shifts under Trump

NATO is conducting its largest combat exercises of 2025 in Romania, involving 10,000 troops from nine nations. This comes amid concerns about the U.S. military commitment to Europe under President Trump, who has urged allies to increase defense spending. The drills, named Steadfast Dart 2025, include live-fire training and trench warfare. They are part of NATO's new Allied Reaction Force, which aims to deploy quickly in response to threats. The exercises involve multiple countries and significant military resources. European allies are worried about being sidelined in U.S.-Russia discussions regarding Ukraine. Romania has increased its role in NATO, providing military support to Ukraine and hosting training for allied pilots.