US plans to cut strategic bombers, warships available to NATO in a crisis, Spiegel reports

The United States intends to substantially decrease the military capabilities it makes available to NATO allies during crises, according to a report by German news outlet Spiegel. The reduction affects critical assets such as strategic bombers, fighter jets, warships, and mid-air refueling aircraft. This move signals a potential shift in US commitment to the alliance, raising concerns among European nations already strained by geopolitical tensions.

An envoy from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly briefed senior NATO officials on the plan last week in Brussels. The US aims to provide only half its previous number of strategic bombers and reduce fighter jet contributions by a third. Furthermore, the US Navy will make fewer destroyers available, and the US will cease providing any submarines to the alliance. Europe will consequently be required to supply its own reconnaissance drones, as US provision of armed models will also be significantly scaled back.

These proposed reductions occur against a backdrop of President Donald Trump's consistent criticism of European allies for insufficient military spending and his threats to withdraw troops from Germany. Transatlantic tensions have also been inflamed by Trump's ambitions regarding Greenland and his questioning of NATO's mutual defense pact. The US plans to offer further details on these force generation changes at a conference in early June.

A NATO spokeswoman acknowledged an "over-reliance" on the US in force planning. She suggested that with increased defense investments from Europe and Canada, military responsibilities within the alliance could be reorganized. The German defense ministry had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

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