Information: US plans to reduce NATO aid

TT

Published 18.11

 

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at NATO headquarters in Brussels last year. Photo: Virginia Mayo/AP/TT

The US has far-reaching plans to reduce its contributions to NATO in the event of a crisis, including by giving the alliance access to fewer fighter jets, warships and drones than today. This is reported by the German Der Spiegel.

The German newspaper writes that an envoy from the US Secretary of War informed other member states of the plans last week.

Envoy Alexander Velez-Green is said to have said during the meeting in Brussels that the US intends to reduce the number of fighter jets by a third and half the number of strategic bombers that NATO can access.

In addition, NATO can expect fewer American warships to assist the alliance, and that no submarines will be made available, the sources said.

The changes are being made by the US within the agreement that regulates which country contributes what, how much and how quickly in the event of a crisis, according to Reuters. The news agency has confirmed parts of Der Spiegel's reporting through its own sources.

The US reduction comes after President Donald Trump's repeated criticism of other NATO countries and his demand that other countries do more.

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump is "sincerely disappointed with some allies and their response" to US efforts in the Middle East. Rubio emphasized during the NATO summit in Helsingborg that the US must constantly review where American soldiers are needed and best serve US interests.

NATO chief Mark Rutte last week downplayed concerns about American troop withdrawals from Europe and instead described the situation as an ongoing "rebalancing" that is taking place to avoid relying on a single country, the United States.