The United States is reportedly preparing to reduce the military resources it makes available to NATO allies during future crises, a move that reflects President Donald Trump’s long-running demand that European nations shoulder more of their own defense burden instead of leaning so heavily on American power.
According to a report from German outlet Spiegel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed senior NATO officials in Brussels last week that the U.S. intends to scale back several key military commitments to the alliance.
Among the most notable changes, the United States would reportedly cut the number of strategic bombers available to NATO by half. The number of American fighter jets deployed for alliance operations would also be reduced by roughly one-third, according to remarks attributed to U.S. envoy Alexander Velez-Green.
The report further stated that the U.S. Navy would no longer provide nuclear submarines to NATO operations and would deploy fewer destroyers than in previous years. American reconnaissance drones would reportedly be retained exclusively for U.S. use, while the availability of attack UAVs to NATO would also be reduced.
The proposed reductions come as the Trump administration continues reevaluating America’s role in defending Europe, a commitment originally forged during the Cold War to counter the Soviet Union. President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that many NATO countries allowed their militaries to weaken while relying on American taxpayers and American troops to carry the burden of collective defense.
That frustration has intensified amid growing global instability and ongoing military conflicts overseas. While Europe has increased defense spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many conservatives in the United States have questioned whether America should remain indefinitely tied to expensive foreign commitments while domestic concerns continue to mount at home.
The United States still maintains roughly 68,000 active-duty troops stationed throughout Europe, with the majority based in Germany. But the latest reported changes suggest Washington may increasingly expect European allies to take greater responsibility for their own security rather than assuming the U.S. military will always fill every gap.
At the same time, the administration appears careful not to completely sever America’s core commitments to the alliance. Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has previously stated that the United States would continue using its nuclear arsenal to protect NATO members if necessary.
More details on the reported restructuring of America’s NATO commitments are expected in early June, according to Spiegel.
The developments follow several high-profile disputes between Trump and NATO leadership. The president sharply criticized alliance members for offering limited support during his administration’s military actions involving Iran and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force. Trump also faced pushback from allies during his failed attempt to gain control of Greenland.
At one point, Trump openly questioned whether continued U.S. participation in NATO still made sense, noting that the alliance’s mutual defense clause has only been formally invoked once — after the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.
Meanwhile, Mark Rutte acknowledged last week that NATO is preparing for a future less dependent on Washington, saying the alliance hopes to reduce its “over-reliance” on any single member nation.
For many Americans weary of endless global entanglements and mounting military obligations abroad, the debate reflects a broader question now confronting the West: how long the United States can continue serving as the world’s primary security guarantor without risking exhaustion at home.
[READ MORE: Tensions Erupt Outside Newark Detention Facility as ICE Agents Pepper-Spray Protesters]
