Trump Administration Plans Drastic Cuts to U.S. Military Commitments to NATO, Shifting Conventional Defense Burden to Europe

The United States is preparing a historic reduction of its military contribution to NATO, signaling a profound shift in global security responsibilities. According to information obtained by the German publication Der Spiegel, a senior Pentagon official, Alexander Velez-Green, informed high-ranking officials from member states during a secret meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels late last week. The plans, framed under the Trump administration's vision of "NATO 3.0," demand that European nations assume full responsibility for the conventional defense of the continent, while the U.S. retains only its nuclear deterrent umbrella.

The Scale of the Proposed Cuts

The proposed reductions far exceeded the expectations of European diplomats, who had anticipated only minor adjustments. The U.S. intends to slash its commitment of fighter jets to the alliance by one-third and significantly reduce the number of strategic bombers. The plans also call for the withdrawal of two American aircraft carriers from emergency plans, a reduction in the number of destroyers, and the complete cessation of submarine availability to NATO command structures. Contributions of refueling tanker aircraft, reconnaissance drones, and armed drones will also be significantly curtailed.

The numbers presented by the envoy of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth signify a 'turning point in NATO,' and the U.S. plans are deeper than the Europeans expected.

Currently, the U.S. provides nearly half of the alliance's military capabilities. The message from Washington is clear: the burden must be redistributed immediately. The measure does not necessarily mean an immediate physical withdrawal of all American troops from the European continent, but rather a legal unlocking of these forces. Many of these units are stationed in the U.S. and only promised to NATO in a crisis; Washington wants total flexibility to deploy them rapidly elsewhere in the world, particularly to address potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.

European Response and Nuclear Assurance

Despite the sweeping conventional cuts, U.S. officials have assured allies that Washington will continue to intervene in the event of an Article 5 invocation—an attack on a member state—and that the nuclear deterrence umbrella over Europe remains a firm part of its defense policy. However, the pressure on European nations is immense. They must fill these logistical gaps extremely rapidly. A portion of the fighter jet deficit could be covered by ongoing deliveries of F-35 aircraft, with Poland having just received its first three units and Germany expecting its first delivery next year. However, no European country possesses strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

The plans are exactly in line with our expectations and absolutely within the framework of the approach that there should be no surprises. This process is nothing new; everyone knew this was going to happen.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commented last week that he could not yet comment on the "top-secret" U.S. plans but insisted the process was expected. A NATO spokesperson told Der Spiegel that there had been an "over-reliance" on the U.S. in NATO force planning and that, with Europe and Canada investing more in defense, military responsibilities within the alliance could be reorganized.

Next Steps and Timeline

The exact nature of the cutbacks is not yet finalized, and the U.S. did not attach any specific timelines to the reductions. European allies and the U.S. are likely to discuss the issue further at NATO's Force Generation conference in early June, where national military planners define the capabilities they can offer the alliance. Washington reportedly wants to present a new burden-sharing arrangement at the NATO summit in Ankara in July. Following the Brussels meeting, consultations are already underway within the German government on how to react to the new challenges.

Strategic Implications

The move is part of a broader Trump administration strategy to urge Europe to take more responsibility for its own affairs. It follows recent tensions, including threats to withdraw troops from the continent and criticism over perceived lack of support during the war in Iran. European intelligence agencies have warned that Russia could launch a major attack within a matter of years, making the timing of the U.S. drawdown particularly sensitive for the continent's security architecture.