NATO and Korea Force Posture

The final NDAA, now headed to a House vote, bars reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 without a security assessment and congressional certification and restricts cuts in South Korea below 28,500 unless deterrence won’t be weakened, allies are consulted and a regional impact assessment is completed, and it requires retention of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) post. The compromise also funds Ukraine — including $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (reported as $400 million in both FY2026 and FY2027) — clarifies conditions for reclaiming undelivered equipment, and adds measures such as repealing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs and lifting Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.