The United States plans to significantly reduce the number of aircraft and warships it provides for NATO operations in Europe.
This is reported by The New York Times, citing two senior European officials and fragments of a document with US plans that European allies received in early June.
The document, which journalists have access to, shows that the US intends to:
- reduce the number of F-16 and F-15E fighters from 150 to approximately 100;
- reduce the number of maritime reconnaissance aircraft from 26 to 15;
- completely withdraw eight tanker aircraft that were previously available for operations in Europe;
- to transfer a missile-armed submarine, an aircraft carrier, several warships, and dozens of aircraft that are part of its strike group to other regions;
- withdraw one of the two groups of strategic bombers assigned to the defense of Europe.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the specific figures given in the document, referring to a statement from its European Command last week, which stated its intention to reduce its commitments in Europe.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the reductions could come much faster than European allies had expected, potentially impacting NATOʼs ability to conduct long-range strikes, conduct reconnaissance, and monitor the movements of Russian submarines.
The US President Donald Trump has for years criticized European allies for not spending enough on defense and urged them to rely more on their own forces. The new cuts could be the most sweeping implementation of that policy.
At the same time, the United States will remain one of the largest NATO military forces in Europe. In addition, European countries are already increasing defense spending and building up their own military capabilities against the backdrop of the Russian threat and the war in Ukraine.
- In early May, the US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to withdraw 5 000 American troops from Germany. The countryʼs Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at the time that this should encourage Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security.
- Washingtonʼs European allies also predicted that Trump would order the withdrawal of more American troops not only from Germany but also from Italy.
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