Report: US to cut strategic bombers and warships available to NATO in a crisis
Defense News • • world
Key Points:
- The U.S. plans to significantly reduce its military contributions to NATO, cutting fighter jets by one-third, halving strategic bombers, reducing destroyers, and ceasing to provide submarines, according to a German Spiegel report.
- This move follows mounting tensions within NATO, fueled by President Trump's criticisms of European allies' defense spending and threats to withdraw troops from Germany.
- The U.S. envoy briefed NATO officials on these changes, which also include Europe having to supply its own reconnaissance drones as the U.S. scales back armed drone support.
- NATO acknowledges an over-reliance on U.S. forces and suggests that increased European and Canadian defense investments could lead to a reorganization of military responsibilities within the alliance.
- Further details on the U.S. force reductions are expected at a NATO force generation conference scheduled for early June.