NATO allies grapple with U.S. pullback, confusion over its military plans

NATO is preparing for potential U.S. reductions in forces and assets provided to allies if an attack occurs. The Trump administration is taking steps to pull back a large U.S. military footprint in Europe, and the plans are being reviewed amid mixed signals. President Trump stated the United States would send 5,000 additional troops to Poland, matching the number previously said to be withdrawn from Germany. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reassessment of U.S. military presence preceded tensions over Iran and will continue, emphasizing it is not punitive. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said commanders are working through details and that the announcement does not change plans to reduce reliance on the United States over time.

"Rubio told reporters on Friday that reassessment of the U.S. military presence in NATO countries preceded transatlantic tensions over Iran and would continue. The United States has global targets "in terms of our force deployment, and that constantly requires us to reexamine where we put troops, and this is not a punitive thing," Rubio said. "That's a process that will continue, I think, in a very positive and productive way.""

"Still, he said Trump's "disappointment" with European leaders over Iran would "have to be addressed." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Trump's post on Poland, but said commanders are "working through the details" and that the announcement does not change U.S. plans to shrink its military presence in Europe. "Let's be clear," he said, NATO remains on a path to "making sure we will over time, step-by-step, be less reliant on one ally only, which is the United States," while the Europeans "step up more.""

"On the eve of the NATO gathering here, Trump, in a post to Truth Social, said the United States would send 5,000 additional troops to Poland. That is the same number the administration had said it would pull back from Germany as Trump grew frustrated with European leaders' hesitation to more directly join the war against Iran."

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