US to cut NATO air and naval assets in Europe, raising alliance concerns
The United States is planning to sharply reduce air and naval assets assigned to NATO operations in Europe, according to reports cited by European officials. The move would affect fighter jets, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and several major naval platforms, including an aircraft carrier and a submarine. It comes amid wider concern in Europe about Washington's commitment to the alliance's military posture.
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The reported changes include cutting the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets allocated to NATO from about 150 to 100. Maritime surveillance aircraft would also be reduced from 26 to 15, while eight aerial refuelling aircraft are expected to be withdrawn completely. One of two bomber task force groups previously assigned to European defence would be redeployed to another region, and several warships would also be stationed elsewhere.
NATO officials said they were aware of some planned reductions and sought to present them as part of a longer-term adjustment. A NATO spokesperson said the change would strengthen defence plans by reducing over-dependence on one ally and would put the alliance on a more sustainable footing. Even so, the expected cuts would affect reconnaissance and long-range strike capacity, and European member states are said to be weighing alternative plans for defence in the event of a Russian attack.
The reported drawdown matters because it touches the balance of military power inside NATO at a time when Europe is already focused on security risks along the alliance's eastern flank. The United States has long been the largest military contributor to NATO, and any reduction in its Europe-based assets is likely to prompt questions about deterrence, readiness and burden-sharing. The timing also matters because the reported changes are being framed as part of a broader US strategy to shift resources toward the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.
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The reports suggest the administration of President Donald Trump is pursuing a wider repositioning of forces rather than a single isolated cut. That broader approach has already introduced uncertainty for European governments trying to plan for air defence, maritime surveillance and rapid reinforcement. The mention of a submarine, aircraft carrier and bomber task force group being moved elsewhere indicates the changes are not limited to one branch of the US military.
What remains unclear is the final scale, timing and sequencing of the reductions, and whether all of the reported moves will be carried out as described. It is also not clear how NATO members will adjust their own planning if the changes go ahead. The key issue to watch is whether the alliance treats this as a manageable redistribution of assets or as a sign of a more lasting US retreat from Europe.
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