US reportedly plans to reduce military contribution to NATO

BERLIN (ANTARA) – The United States plans to significantly reduce its military contribution to NATO, German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday (26 May). Senior Pentagon officials outlined the plan during a closed-door meeting at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels last week, according to the report. European officials were reportedly shocked by the scale of the proposed military reduction. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s envoy, Alexander Velez-Green, is said to have stated that the US would cut assets allocated to NATO’s ready forces, including drones, fighter jets, aerial refuelling aircraft, warships, and other naval assets. The magazine also reported that the US plans to reduce strategic bomber aircraft allocated to NATO and is considering cutting about a third of its fighter jet contribution to the alliance. Diplomatic and military sources, who spoke anonymously, said the US would also reduce destroyers available to NATO and does not plan to provide submarines for the NATO Force Model. However, the US will maintain its nuclear deterrent in Europe while urging European nations to take primary responsibility for conventional defence. According to sources, the cuts aim to give the US greater flexibility in case of conflict in the Indo-Pacific region without being tied to specific NATO asset commitments.