Yesterday, reports emerged that the US has informed NATO that it is reducing its commitment of forces–the number of strategic bombers, fighter jets, drones, submarines and warships dedicated to NATO–to be deployed in response to a crisis. The announcement was made in a closed-door meeting of NATO policy directors in Brussels on May 22 by Pentagon adviser Alexander Velez-Green, Politico reported, citing two unnamed alliance diplomats. The exact nature of the cutbacks is not yet finalized, the diplomats said, and the U.S. did not attach any timelines to the reductions. Washington also reassured allies there would be no changes to its nuclear deterrence, they added.
The meeting did “not [give] exhaustive details … but it is much clearer now,” said a third NATO diplomat, also granted anonymity to speak freely. “It will depend on the capacity of the others to come in with alternatives … some are not touched, others go completely, others can go to one-half or one-third..”
“The timeline is more complicated because it is linked with the credibility of deterrence and defense,” they said. “That said, everything is not yet definitely decided, even in the U.S.”
