The United States plans to significantly reduce its military assets available for NATO operations in Europe. The decision includes cutting the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets and removing all aerial refueling tanker jets.
The move aims to reduce reliance on US forces and encourage European countries to invest more in their defense capabilities. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated that this shift in responsibility would strengthen the alliance's defense.
The US European Command announced it would 'rightsize' its contributions to the NATO Force Model, but did not provide further details. The decision reflects a broader change within the alliance, with the US urging European governments to boost defense spending to 3.5% of GDP.
