The Trump administration plans to significantly reduce the number of U.S. aircraft and warships assigned to NATO operations in Europe, according to two senior European officials familiar with the decision.
The planned reductions, outlined in a document shared with allies in early June, would scale back American military assets available for NATO missions and limit the alliance’s ability to conduct long-range strikes, aerial refueling, and surveillance operations, reports The New York Times on Friday.
According to the officials, the United States intends to reduce the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets available for NATO operations from about 150 to 100.
Maritime reconnaissance aircraft would be cut from 26 to 15, while all eight aerial refueling tanker aircraft previously assigned to Europe would be withdrawn.
The drawdown also includes the reassignment of a missile-launching submarine, an aircraft carrier, and several accompanying warships, as well as one of two bomber groups previously designated for Europe’s defense.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the specific figures contained in the document and referred to a recent statement from U.S. European Command that discussed plans to reduce American commitments in Europe.
The reductions provide the clearest indication yet of the extent to which the Trump administration intends to scale back its military role within NATO, the alliance established after World War II to provide collective defense for North America and Europe. European leaders continue to view NATO as central to deterring Russian aggression.
A timeline for the reductions has not been publicly announced, but U.S. officials have indicated the changes could take effect sooner than many European governments expected. The move could affect NATO’s ability to monitor Russian submarine activity and conduct long-range strike operations.
Giuseppe Spatafora of the European Union Institute for Security Studies said the combined effect of the reductions represents "a significant posture change" for the alliance.
"While each of these cuts can be managed individually, together they represent a significant posture change and pose challenges to European deterrence readiness across the spectrum," Spatafora said.
Source:
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/nato-trump-administration-military/2026/06/12/id/1259437/