U.S. scaling back NATO military support as allies step up

The Trump administration is shrinking the pool of U.S. military capabilities available to NATO in a crisis, expecting Canada and European allies to rapidly increase their contributions in aircraft, ships, and reconnaissance drones.

U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's top commander and head of U.S. forces in Europe, announced the shift after a meeting of NATO military planners. The U.S. will reduce its contribution to the NATO Force Model — a framework of forces that can be activated during a crisis — and refocus those assets elsewhere.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO and told European members they will need to assume primary responsibility for conventional continental defence. The administration did not publicly disclose details of its decision, but Grynkewich's statement revealed which areas will be cut first: manned and unmanned aircraft, naval vessels, and reconnaissance drones.

"There has been an unhealthy codependence in the NATO Force Model on U.S. forces," Grynkewich said. "This needs to change, and it will change."

According to German news outlet Spiegel, the number of U.S. fighter jets available to NATO will drop by a third, and the U.S. will provide fewer destroyers and no submarines as part of the crisis pool. Europe will also need to supply its own reconnaissance drones while the U.S. scales back armed models.

NATO's military headquarters said allies already have or soon will have sufficient capabilities to cover the gap, meaning no defence gaps are expected. However, the timing of when allied nations must replace U.S. capabilities remains unclear. NATO leaders are scheduled to meet at a summit in Ankara in July.