Report Says US Planning to Reduce NATO Crisis Commitments

(MENAFN) The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to reduce the military resources Washington would make available to NATO during a major conflict or emergency involving alliance members.

According to reports citing sources familiar with the discussions, the Pentagon has decided to “significantly scale down” its contribution to NATO’s force structure, although the exact composition of the military assets involved remains classified.

The expected policy shift could reportedly be presented during a meeting of NATO defense policy officials in Brussels on May 22. Reports indicate the US delegation will likely include Alex Velez-Green, a senior adviser to Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby.

Adjustments to the NATO Force Model have reportedly become a major focus for Colby’s team ahead of the alliance summit scheduled to take place in Türkiye in July.

While Washington has encouraged European members to assume greater responsibility for conventional military forces, Colby previously stated that the US would “strenuously oppose” efforts by European countries to develop independent nuclear arsenals intended to replace American nuclear protection.

The reported changes come amid a broader reduction of the US military footprint in Europe, where more than 80,000 American troops were stationed in 2025 under long-standing defense arrangements established after World War II.

Reports also claimed the White House created a NATO “naughty and nice” list aimed at rewarding countries that backed the US-Israeli campaign against Iran while penalizing governments that did not support the operation. Measures reportedly under consideration include troop relocations, reduced military exercises, and changes to defense cooperation.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon reportedly canceled a planned deployment rotation involving 4,000 troops to Poland shortly after announcing the withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers from Germany.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has also reportedly halted plans to send a long-range missile battalion to Germany.

MENAFN21052026000045017281ID1111150181