▲ U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets
The United States is planning to significantly reduce the number of fighter jets and warships deployed in Europe to support North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations, The New York Times (NYT) reported on June 13 (local time).
According to senior European officials cited by the NYT, this U.S. policy was communicated to European allies through a document earlier this month.
The document, partially reviewed by the NYT, outlines plans to reduce the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets deployed in Europe from approximately 150 to 100, and maritime patrol aircraft from 26 to 15. It also includes the full withdrawal of eight aerial refueling tankers.
Regarding naval assets, the plan involves the redeployment of one missile-carrying submarine, one aviation fleet, several warships that join aircraft carrier missions, and dozens of fighter jets.
Furthermore, the plan includes the redeployment of one of the two bomber task forces currently stationed for the defense of Europe.
While the U.S. Department of Defense has not yet officially announced a timeline for the reductions, officials cited by the NYT suggested that the plan would take effect in the near future.
The NYT explained that this move accelerates efforts to scale back the protective shield the U.S. has provided to Europe for the past 80 years.
Recently, the U.S. European Command also announced that it had informed NATO allies to fill the gaps created by the reduction of U.S. military assets on their own.
General Alexus Grynkewich, Commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, explained the background of the decision in a statement on June 3, noting that there has been an "unhealthy interdependence" in the NATO Force Model (NFM).
He stated that he expects European nations and Canada to rapidly increase the number of manned and unmanned military aircraft and warships required for NATO's defense plans.
U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that NATO is "free-riding" on U.S. military power for its security, demanding that Europe do more to defend itself without relying on U.S. support.
While the Trump administration had previously announced small-scale withdrawals from individual European countries, this new plan, which entails a comprehensive reduction of support across the entire continent, is viewed as a measure of a different magnitude.
The sudden reduction of U.S. military assets will impact NATO’s military capabilities, such as monitoring Russian submarines or launching long-range missiles like the Tomahawk deep into Russian territory in the event of a contingency, the NYT pointed out.
Although European nations possess similar missile launch capabilities, experts assess that U.S. operation of these missiles provides a greater deterrent against Russia.
Giuseppe Spatafora, an analyst at the think tank European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), commented on the U.S. reduction of military assets in Europe, stating, "Individually they might be manageable, but taken together they represent a significant posture change and pose a challenge to European deterrence readiness across the board."
(Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Central Command, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.