The Pentagon has informed European allies that the United States plans to reduce some military capabilities available to NATO during a future crisis, as President Donald Trump pushes Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense.
The move is part of a broader Trump administration effort to shift more of NATO’s conventional defense burden onto European allies while Washington redirects military focus toward the Indo-Pacific.
Officials said the U.S. plans to reduce certain available NATO-related capabilities by roughly one-third to one-half.
Those reductions could involve strategic bombers, fighter jets and some naval assets.
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Pentagon official Alexander Velez-Green reportedly informed NATO officials of the changes during a Defense Policy Directors’ meeting in Brussels.
The Pentagon did not publicly confirm every detail of the reductions, but spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged that changes were being made to U.S. contributions to the NATO Force Model.
Parnell framed the move as an opportunity for allies to prove they have heard Trump’s demand that Europe step up.
He said NATO members must not only spend more on defense, but also focus that money on combat-ready capabilities needed to defend the continent.
The announcement comes ahead of the NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump is expected to intensify pressure on allies to take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense.
European officials have largely avoided publicly criticizing the shift, but some have privately expressed concern about the pace and clarity of Washington’s new Europe posture.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has tried to reassure allies, saying any changes would happen gradually and in a structured way.
He also insisted that the United States would remain involved in Europe.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it is understood inside the alliance that the U.S. troop presence in Europe will be adjusted.
The move comes as the Pentagon continues reviewing America’s military footprint across the continent.
The U.S. currently keeps tens of thousands of troops in Europe, including large deployments in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Poland.
Germany hosts the largest American force in Europe, with roughly 36,000 U.S. troops stationed there.
The Trump administration has also announced plans to withdraw around 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next year as part of the broader review.
The Pentagon previously withdrew an armored brigade combat team from Romania after a temporary deployment tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Defense officials increasingly describe the changes as part of a post-Ukraine-war restructuring of NATO focused on territorial defense, rapid mobilization and European burden-sharing.
For Trump, the shift reflects a long-standing argument that European allies have relied too heavily on American military power while failing to spend enough on their own defense.
Supporters of the move say Europe has the wealth and population to shoulder more of its own security burden.
Critics warn that moving too quickly could weaken deterrence against Russia and create uncertainty among allies at a dangerous time.
The debate now centers on whether Europe can rapidly build the military capacity needed to replace reduced U.S. commitments.
Why It Matters
The Pentagon’s move signals a major shift in America’s role inside NATO. Trump is making clear that the U.S. will no longer automatically carry the largest share of Europe’s conventional defense burden, forcing allies to decide whether they can defend the continent with less direct American support.
What Comes Next
NATO allies are expected to press Washington for more clarity ahead of the July summit in Turkey. European governments may also face pressure to accelerate defense spending, expand weapons production and strengthen their own rapid-response forces.
Trump’s secret NATO ultimatum sparks panic as US ‘pulls jets, bombers and EVERY submarine from Europe’ https://t.co/XDEXwkK31K
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) May 26, 2026
