US Plans Major Military Drawdown in Europe

The United States is preparing a significant reduction of its military assets assigned to NATO operations in Europe, including fighter jets, warships, and surveillance aircraft, according to senior European officials cited by The New York Times.

The planned cuts would reportedly reduce the number of US F-16 and F-15E fighter aircraft available to NATO from around 150 to 100, while maritime patrol aircraft would be cut from 26 to 15. The US also plans to withdraw all eight aerial refueling aircraft currently assigned to European operations.

Under the proposal, Washington would also redeploy a missile submarine, an aircraft carrier and its supporting vessels, as well as one of two bomber task forces previously available to the alliance.

European allies were informed of the plans in early June through a written document, raising concerns about NATO's ability to conduct long-range strike missions, intelligence gathering, and maritime surveillance, particularly amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The move reflects the Trump administration's broader effort to reduce US security commitments in Europe, potentially reshaping NATO's deterrence posture against Russia and increasing pressure on European allies to strengthen their own defense capabilities.