NATO’s rocky relations with the US is facing another blow as Washington looks to make withdrawals. A senior Pentagon official reportedly told a behind-closed-doors meeting in Brussels that America would be cutting back forces available to NATO.
Sources have claimed the move is about putting pressure on European allies to more rapidly beef up their forces to stop relying on American military support. Transatlantic NATO relations have suffered a series of blows this year, including a fallout over Donald Trump’s comments about acquiring Greenland and his fierce criticism of allies over their response to the US-Israel war on Iran. It is claimed Alexander Velez-Green, a senior war department adviser, told the meeting that withdrawn assets could include submarines, warships and strategic bombers.
The US has also warned it could reassign a third of its fighter jets allocated to protect Europe in a crisis, according to The Telegraph.
European sources told the newspaper that the move was similar to previous statements made by the Trump administration.
He also announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested the US had been “humiliated” by Iran.
The US is by far NATO’s biggest military spender and power but Mr Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the alliance, particularly over allies’ perceived lack of action in the conflict in the Middle East.
Washington has called for a “NATO 3.0” which would see European allies be responsible for security on the continent and enabling US forces to focus on the Indo-Pacific.
The meeting in Brussels was held last Friday and Mr Velez-Green provided no specifics or timelines regarding withdrawals, reports say.
The cutbacks are expected to be discussed in more detail at a meeting next month.
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, told The Telegraph: “The department of war announced changes to US contributions to the NATO Force Model at the defence policy directors’ meeting in Brussels.
“These changes represent an opportunity for allies to demonstrate that they have heard President Trump’s call for them to step up and take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defence.”