The United States plans to significantly reduce its military contribution to NATO and continue to provide the Alliance with fewer fighter jets, warships, drones and air tankers. Spiegel reported this on May 26, citing data that a Pentagon representative announced to allies at NATO headquarters.
Washington wants to reduce its obligations under the so-called NATO Force Model, which was agreed upon in 2022 after the start of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the publication notes. This model determines which NATO units and military capabilities may be available to NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe to deter and defend the continent.
As Spiegel writes, the US plans “turned out to be more serious than the Europeans expected.” In particular, Washington can significantly reduce the number of strategic bombers, attack UAVs, fighters by about a third, and will not provide submarines at all. According to journalists, the country wants to maintain nuclear deterrence in Europe, and European countries should largely take over the conventional defense of the continent.
At the same time, these plans do not necessarily mean the withdrawal of American troops from Europe – according to the military, Washington primarily wants to have more flexibility in the event of a possible escalation in the Indo-Pacific region.
At a closed meeting at the Alliance headquarters, the administration of US President Donald Trump said that the allies must “close the gaps as quickly as possible” that will arise due to the reduction in American contributions. According to media sources, some of those present perceived this “as an indirect threat.”
Already in early June, at a special NATO conference, the United States is expecting proposals on which countries, in which areas and when will be able to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Alliance.
