Pentagon Official Alexander Velez-Green Tells NATO Brussels US Cuts Strategic Bombers, Warships

The United States told NATO allies it would shrink the pool of military assets and capabilities it makes available to the alliance in a conflict, with a briefing in Brussels last week by Pentagon official Alexander Velez-Green to NATO policy directors.

Stars and Stripes reported that the Trump administration aims to cut the forces earmarked to defend NATO by one-third to one-half, including cuts to long-range strike forces such as strategic bombers, some midair refueling tankers, and warships.

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POLITICO.eu said the reductions were made clear in a closed-door meeting of NATO policy directors on Friday, with U.S. plans to scale down strategic bombers, fighter jets, drones, submarines and warships dedicated to NATO, while noting the U.S. did not attach timelines to the reductions.

The Independent reported that Velez-Green said the commitment for US fighter jets would fall by a third, while the US Navy would make fewer destroyers available and no longer provide any submarines.

The changes were linked to NATO Force Model planning, a system used to generate and assign forces from alliance member states for defense plans, including resources from the continental United States to be made available in the first 10 days, 30 days and 180 days.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said a smaller U.S. contribution to the force-generating system was “to be expected,” and he tied the shift to Europe spending more to end “overreliance on one ally when it comes to defense of the totality of NATO.”

In a statement to Stars and Stripes, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, “These changes represent an opportunity for allies to demonstrate that they have heard President Trump’s call for them to step up and take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense.”

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POLITICO.eu quoted NATO spokesperson Allison Hart saying there has been an “over-reliance on US forces and capabilities” by the alliance, while adding that as Europe and Canada invest more, “the balance of responsibility can shift.”

The Independent said Mark Rutte declined to give details about the reported plans to cut US military contributions, telling reporters that the process was “highly classified” and “nothing new.”

El País reported that NATO downplayed the moves by the United States and said the Force Model is the “overarching framework for putting national forces at the Alliance's disposal,” while NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed the meeting took place and that allies “exchanged views on future contributions”.

Multiple outlets said the U.S. urged European allies to close emerging gaps quickly, with TVP World reporting that Washington expects European allies to provide details by July on how they will bridge the gap.

Stars and Stripes said the move affects the NATO force model and that part of it involves resources from the continental United States being made available in the event of a major crisis within the first 10 days, 30 days and 180 days.

POLITICO.eu reported that Jennifer Kavanagh said the reductions would create gaps that would be particularly difficult to fill rapidly for some types of military assets, including submarines and strategic bombers, while arguing Europe should not seek to replace them like-for-like.

El País said Washington urged European allies to design a plan to replace the capabilities it would stop making available before the Ankara leaders' summit on July 7-8, and it described the U.S. as offering partners help with planning.

The Independent added that further details were expected at a force generation conference in early June, after the Spiegel report that the U.S. would shrink the pool of military capabilities available to the alliance during a crisis.