By Andrea Palasciano | Updated on Jun 12, 2026 at 07:30 PM
Europe is bracing for drastic cuts to the military assets the US would send to the continent’s rescue during a war or crisis, including some gear it cannot replace, according to people familiar with the matter.
During the past few weeks, in meetings at NATO’s political and military headquarters, the US has laid out deep reductions in its contribution to the NATO force model. That model determines what US hardware and personnel outside Europe would be sent in case of need.
These include a 30% reduction of strategic bombers, which European nations do not possess, alongside reductions ranging from 75% to 100% of reconnaissance and attack drones, and about 50% of naval vessels, according to a senior western military official.
A third of fighter jets will also be slashed, the official added, confirming earlier New York Times reporting.
The US Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reduction plans. The Trump administration has repeatedly called on European nations to play a bigger role in their own self-defense.
Europeans are now considering how the continent could fight a war without US support, according to people familiar with the matter. The topic was addressed at a meeting of E5 defense ministers on Friday, with a focus on on how to achieve the same military objectives with the remaining weapons and equipment, the people added.
A precise timeline for the reductions was not announced but the expectation is that they would occur soon, the people said.
Europe has been rattled by such announcements in recent weeks, as well as by erratic troop cut plans posted by US President Donald Trump on social media.