Washington Leans Toward Heavy NATO Cuts: Alarm Grows Among European Allies

Translated by: Ramona Orefice 

The American military umbrella over Europe could soon be significantly scaled back. This is the message emerging from leaks circulating within NATO over the last few hours, where concern is mounting over the Trump administration's plans to downsize the U.S. strategic contribution to the Atlantic Alliance. It is a prospect that risks profoundly reshaping the balance of European Security.

According to reporting by the German weekly Der Spiegel, Washington is considering substantial cuts to the military assets made available to NATO in the event of a crisis. Strategic bombers, fighter jets, submarines, drones, and naval units are all reportedly in the crosshairs. Specifically, the United States could reduce the number of fighter jets assigned to NATO operations by about a third and significantly decrease the support provided by American submarines. Reconnaissance and armed drones could also face steep reductions [1].

The definitive list of cuts has reportedly not yet been formalized. Alliance sources speak of an ongoing negotiation ahead of the upcoming technical meetings on "force generation", the process by which NATO defines the forces available for joint missions. However, the political signal is unmistakable: the United States intends to shift its strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific to counter China, demanding that European allies take responsibility for the defense of their own continent.

The issue had already surfaced in recent months during various NATO meetings. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken openly about the need for a "more European" NATO, while the Alliance's Secretary General, Mark Rutte, sought to reassure allies by claiming that the process is taking place "without surprises" and in full coordination with European partners. Behind the official statements, however, nervousness in European chancelleries is palpable [2].

The concern is not just the numerical decline of American contingents, but above all the potential weakening of NATO's deterrence capability on the eastern side. The fear among several diplomats is that the American drawdown could be interpreted by Moscow as a sign of weakness and fragmentation within the Alliance, particularly in the most exposed areas like the Baltic States and Poland.

Today, there are an estimated 80,000 American troops stationed in Europe, with Germany and Italy serving as the primary strategic hubs. Just in recent weeks, Washington announced the cutting of a brigade in Europe and the potential withdrawal of over 5,000 troops from Germany, these signals are interpreted as the beginning of a broader overhaul of the U.S. presence [3].

This American pivot aligns with the long-standing political stance of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused European allies of spending too little on defense, demanding a drastic increase in national military budgets.

A delicate phase filled with uncertainties is now opening for Europe. Although many governments are accelerating their rearmament programs, the widespread fear is that the process of achieving European strategic autonomy will take years. Time that Europe may not have, should the American umbrella fold much faster than expected.

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