The announcement was made by the US ambassador in Lisbon, Robert Sherman, at a news conference.


Sherman said the cuts are aimed at saving $35 million (€29.6 million) a year.


Details were announced as US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced a range of cuts, including the closure of a base in the UK, Mildenhall, with the removal of 2,000 civilian and military staff, with for total savings of $500 million.


Nevertheless, he stressed, the US remains committed to supporting its European allies.


Some of the forces to be withdrawn from the UK and Portugal and other places are to be transferred to Germany and Italy, Hagel said.