WORLD NEWS: Fewer fighters, submarines and drones: the US plans to reduce the forces at NATO’s disposal in Europe in case of threat | International
International Briefing:
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The United States is preparing to reduce its contribution to NATO. Donald Trump’s Administration plans to cut the forces it makes available to allies in Europe in the event of a crisis or threat. Within the snip, Washington includes elements of enormous relevance such as military aircraft, tanker aircraft, drones and other long-range systems that are now decisive for the deterrent capacity of the Atlantic Alliance, according to several sources familiar with the plans. This adjustment of forces that are based in the United States and ready for mobilization is added to the announced withdrawal of some 5,000 soldiers stationed in Germany and the freezing of the program to place Tomahawk missiles in German territory. The decision, which was conveyed at the end of last week by Alexander Velez-Green, envoy of the US Undersecretary of Defense, Elbridge A. Colby, to the defense policy directors of the European allied countries and Canada in a meeting in Brussels, is part of Washington’s plans to reduce its presence in Europe and its involvement in the organization. The Europeans are now analyzing the effects of that decision and the steps to follow. Velez-Green informed the allies that the United States seeks to reconfigure the so-called Force Model, the system with which the Euro-Atlantic military organization is organized and prepared, according to Der Spiegel. A plan that works like a list of available forces: each ally commits to contributing soldiers, planes, ships or equipment with the idea that NATO can mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops and capabilities in a coordinated manner to defend an ally if necessary. US President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left), Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a Cabinet meeting this Wednesday at the White House. Evan Vucci (REUTERS)The Alliance reinforced this model in 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin. And now the United States, the allied country that contributes the most to this planning model, with a very substantial part, seeks to reduce its presence within its new strategy to focus on other scenarios; fundamentally in the Indo-Pacific in the face of a possible crisis in 2027. Washington also wants European allies to replace its contribution. At the meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Velez-Green spoke to European officials about “redistribution” of the military burden, according to several sources. Although no specific deadlines were mentioned, Washington had already anticipated that there would be adjustments in its contribution to NATO and its presence in Europe, which President Trump considers disproportionate. And after the real estate magnate’s announcement that he would withdraw 5,000 of his military in Germany—something that was seen as a punishment to that country and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for his criticism of the American campaign in Iran—allies expected Velez-Green to arrive with the cuts. Still, European allies were surprised by the extent of the scissoring, which includes key elements that Europe will not have easy to replace. From fighters to submarines. The details are opaque, since the military information and military assets of the Alliance are secret, as part of its deterrence strategy. Washington calls on Europe’s allies to design a plan to replace the capabilities that it will no longer make available to the Old Continent. And that it be ready before the Ankara leaders’ summit, on July 7 and 8. Washington has offered partners help with planning. In addition, it is looking to sell some of those systems to Europe with which they will have to replace theirs. A replacement that some European sources see as an “opportunity” to rethink whether they should be replaced point by point and whether, in addition, some can be replaced by European capabilities. Secret strategic plansEuropean partners are now analyzing how to respond. And do it, furthermore, in a limited time. NATO, meanwhile, downplays the movements of the United States, its most powerful ally, and assures that it will benefit the military organization, of which Spain has been a part since 1982. “The NATO Forces Model is the general framework for putting national forces at the disposal of the Alliance,” says Allison Hart, spokesperson for NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who confirms that the meeting with the American envoy took place, but who avoids giving details of the meeting, beyond the fact that the allies “exchanged opinions on future contributions to the NATO Force Model.”“Historically, there has been an over-reliance on US forces and capabilities. However, as Europe and Canada invest more in defense and develop greater capabilities, the balance of responsibilities may change,” Hart says by email. “This change strengthens NATO’s defense plans by reducing excessive dependence on a single ally and reflects a broader transformation that is taking place within the Alliance. It is about laying the foundations for greater sustainability of NATO in the coming decades,” he says. The US initiative has another reading. And with this reduction in available capabilities, Washington reduces its contribution to the Alliance. That contribution is measured by actual military capabilities, operational readiness, participation in missions and operations. And not only because of spending, the variable that Trump constantly highlights. A year ago, the American leader managed to get the allies to commit to spending 5% of their GDP on defense. All except Spain, which assures that with 2% it can meet its commitments to the Alliance. The reduction of military assets marks a fundamental strategic change: Washington wants Europe to stop depending on the US military umbrella. It is another way to reach what the Trump Administration has called NATO 3.0, which involves Europe assuming the conventional defense of the continent.
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Source: This article was originally published by Internacional en EL PAÍS and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.