US plans to shrink forces available to NATO during crises, sources tell Reuters

The Trump administration is planning to tell NATO allies this week that it will shrink the pool of military capabilities that the US would have available to assist the alliance’s European nations in a major crisis, three sources familiar with the matter tell Reuters.

Under a framework known as the NATO Force Model, the alliance’s member countries identify a pool of available forces that could be activated during a conflict or any other major crisis, such as a military attack on a NATO member.

While the precise composition of those wartime forces is a closely guarded secret, the Pentagon has decided to significantly scale down its commitment, say the sources, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the plans.

US President Donald Trump has made clear he expects European countries to take over primary responsibility for the continent’s security from the United States. The message to allies this week is a concrete sign of that policy being implemented.

Several details are unclear, such as how quickly the Pentagon plans to shift crisis-mode responsibilities onto European allies. The sources say, however, that the Pentagon plans to announce its intention to lessen its commitment at a Friday meeting of defense policy chiefs in Brussels.

A NATO spokesperson directs a request for comment to the United States. The Pentagon does not immediately respond to a request for comment.