US tells NATO allies to fill gap from troop cuts

The United States has notified its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies that they must independently fill the void left by the reduction of US military assets.

According to Reuters, General Alexis Grenkevich, Commander of US European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, stated in a release on the 3rd (local time) that he expects European countries and Canada to rapidly increase the number of unmanned and manned military aircraft and warships necessary for NATO's defense plans.

Grenkevich explained the background of this decision, saying, "Unhealthy interdependence has continued in the NATO Force Model (NFM)."

He added, "President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have made it clear that change is needed and will happen. This is necessary due to the potential reality of conflicts occurring simultaneously on multiple battlefronts."

President Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO for relying on US military power for its security, stating that Europe would play the primary role in maintaining conventional forces to protect itself.

In this context, the US notified last month its decision to reduce its contribution to the NFM, a military alliance operating system designed to respond quickly to crises such as the threat from Russia.

The US did not publicly disclose the specific targets, scope, or timing of the reduction at the time.

However, defense sources reported that aerial refueling tankers, fighter jets, drones, and warships are among the military assets that will be partially withdrawn from Europe.

Grenkevich's mention of unmanned and manned military aircraft and warships on this day is drawing attention as the first public confirmation of the areas of reduction.

He said, "As the United States reduces the forces allocated to Europe's NFM and concentrates elsewhere, the two major areas where European and Canadian allies can accelerate progress immediately and in a short period are unmanned and manned military aircraft and warships."

Citing sources, Reuters reported that under the US military's plan, the number of US fighter jets F-15 and F-15E would be reduced by one-third to 99, and the number of MQ-4 and MQ-9 Reaper drones would be halved to 12.

NATO allies in Europe are expressing serious concern as the Trump administration lowers the US contribution to NATO amidst a rapidly changing security landscape due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the war between the US and Iran.

In response, NATO spokesperson Colonel Martin O'Donnell of the US Army argued that the areas mentioned by Grenkevich are those where the allies already possess sufficient capabilities.

He explained, "There will be no decrease in defense capabilities at all. The countries (NATO allies) just need to assign the capabilities they possess to NATO."

Security experts believe that regardless of the specific facts, the US decision could send the wrong political signal to allies and Russia.

Jim Townsend, Senior Fellow for Transatlantic Security at the US think tank Center for a New American Security (CNAS), pointed out, "This is the time when the US should be a strong voice supporting Europe, which is being harassed by Russia. It is not the time to reduce US forces in Europe and decrease the military power promised to NATO."