Nato: US presents plan for disengagement in Europe
The US handed over a document to the allies showing a reduction of US air and naval assets in Europe
The United States delivered to the Nato a document containing a plan for the reduction of the American military presence in Europe, including the air force and navy. The reason for this disengagement, which for the first time is put in black and white in detail, would be the shift of American strategic focus towards the Pacific region. Revealing the US plan is the German newspaper Welt, which analysed the documentation submitted to NATO.
Reduction of F-16 fighters and air tankers
According to Welt, there is a rather concise table in the documents handed over to the Atlantic Alliance, consisting of eleven entries and numerous abbreviations. This small list classified as 'Secret' shows for the first time concretely which military capabilities the US intends to withdraw from NATO. The cuts would first of all concern the NATO Force Model, which stipulates how many and which forces the Alliance can deploy on the front line within ten days, between ten and thirty days, and at most within six months. As far as the deployed means are concerned, the first reductions concern the air force. The number of KC-135 tankers supplied by the United States to the Alliance would be reduced from 71 to 63; the eight modern KC-46 would be completely removed from the planning; the F-16 fighters would be reduced from 99 to 63; the F-15E from 54 to 36.
Cuts also for drones and ships
In addition, Washington plans to completely eliminate all long-range strategic reconnaissance drones from NATO planning and to reduce the number of attack drones MQ-9 by almost half. As far as the naval component is concerned, the US intends to withdraw one of the two carrier strike groups; almost half of the cruiser and destroyer formations and the submarine capabilities for launching cruise missiles. The number of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft would also be reduced from 26 to 15, the German newspaper adds. A reduction in bomber aviation is also planned: of the two currently planned bomber groups, only one would remain.
How to bridge the gap
The German newspaper points out that the question of how to fill the gaps left by the reduction of the US contribution will be discussed in mid-June at the level of the defence ministries of the allied countries. An agreed position is expected to be presented during the NATO summit on 7-8 July in Ankara. However, according to Welt, the US does not intend to give up key command positions within the Alliance structure. In particular, the US military would continue to hold the position of Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe (SACEUR), as well as the tactical commands of land, naval, and air forces. Only the operational level of command would be entrusted entirely to the Europeans.
