U.S. Halves NATO Strategic Bombers, Cuts Fighter Jets by 33% as Trump Presses Europe
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 26
U.S. Halves NATO Strategic Bombers, Cuts Fighter Jets by 33% as Trump Presses Europe
6 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 26
U.S. officials told NATO allies in Brussels that Washington plans to sharply shrink the forces it would make available in a crisis, including strategic bombers, fighter jets, warships and refuelling aircraft.
Spiegel reported the new plan would cut strategic bombers by half, reduce fighter jets by a third, provide fewer destroyers and no submarines, and leave Europe to supply its own reconnaissance drones.
Alexander Velez-Green, an envoy for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, briefed senior member-state officials late last week, with fuller details due at an early-June force generation conference.
The move follows Trump's repeated attacks on European allies over defense spending and support in the Strait of Hormuz, deepening fears that Washington is scaling back its NATO role rather than withdrawing outright.
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