Trump wants to reduce the US military role in NATO in the event of a major war

The administration of the American president Donald Trump Washington plans to announce this week to its NATO allies a significant reduction in the military capabilities it would be willing to mobilize to defend Europe in the event of a major crisis or conflict, according to several sources cited by Reuters.

This decision is to be officially presented on Friday in Brussels as part of NATO's "force model", a mechanism by which member countries identify in advance the military units and resources that can be rapidly deployed in the event of an attack against an ally or a major emergency.

According to sources close to the matter, the Pentagon intends to significantly reduce the proportion of US forces dedicated to these rapid reaction missions. The precise details of the plan remain confidential, but this development constitutes a further indication of the gradual disengagement sought by Donald Trump regarding European security.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly stated that European countries must shoulder a greater share of the military burden within the Atlantic Alliance. His administration believes that the United States has borne a disproportionate burden in the defense of the European continent for far too long.

The exact details of the transfer of responsibilities to European armies remain unclear. Sources cited by Reuters indicate that no precise timetable has yet been announced regarding the speed at which European allies will have to compensate for the reduction in the American commitment.

The Pentagon, however, has assured that the United States will continue to guarantee the nuclear protection offered to NATO, a central element of the alliance's deterrence since the Cold War. Washington thus intends to maintain its strategic role while reducing certain conventional resources that could be deployed for large-scale operations in Europe.

This announcement risks reviving concerns among several European capitals, as the war in Ukraine and tensions with Russia have already prompted many member states to significantly increase their military spending in recent years.