Europe replaces most US force cuts in NATO, commander says

Sir John Stringer said European allies "definitely stepped up" to backfill U.S. force cuts, calling it proof of "a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO."bloomberg
The U.S. slashed a third of its pledged fighter jets, ended submarine contributions, and reduced warships, but a gap in strategic bombers remains unfilled.reuters
NATO leaders will gather in Ankara July 7–8 to affirm Article 5 commitments and pledge roughly 70 billion euros in Ukraine military aid for 2026.reuters

European NATO allies have largely filled the gaps left by U.S. reductions to military forces earmarked for Europe's defense, according to the alliance's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, in remarks made ahead of next week's summit in Ankara.

Backfilling the Drawdown

Speaking in an interview published Friday, Stringer said "European allies have definitely stepped up in terms of backfilling the adjustment in the U.S. forces in Europe," describing the effort as evidence of "a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO." The comments follow months of turbulence after the Trump administration unveiled plans to cut roughly a third of U.S. fighter jets pledged to NATO, eliminate submarine contributions, and reduce warships and refueling tankers available for European contingencies.finance.yahoo+3

According to Reuters, European allies filled "almost all" gaps in a matter of weeks, though a shortfall remains in strategic bombers — where the U.S. now offers one aircraft instead of two. A full compensatory plan to cover all U.S. reductions is not yet ready, but the backfill has eased immediate readiness concerns ahead of the July 7–8 NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.reuters+2

Hegseth's Plan Blocked

The Wall Street Journal News Corp reported this week that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had prepared a more drastic proposal to draw down U.S. troop levels in Europe but pulled back after Secretary of State Marco Rubio helped block the plan before it reached NATO allies. The episode underscored internal tensions within the administration over how far to push European burden-sharing.mediaite+1

Summit Week Ahead

NATO's 32 members will gather in Ankara on July 7–8 with leaders set to affirm an "ironclad commitment" to collective defense under Article 5, according to a draft declaration approved by NATO ambassadors. The summit text also pledges 70 billion euros in military assistance to Ukraine for 2026.reuters+1

The spending commitments agreed at last year's Hague summit — 3.5 percent of GDP on core defense and 1.5 percent on security-related spending by 2035 — remain in force for all 32 members except Spain, which received an exemption. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has framed the Ankara gathering as a chance to demonstrate that Europeans are delivering on those pledges.reuters+2

Sources (28)