The United States is planning to accelerate the reduction of its military presence in Europe and could present concrete proposals to NATO allies within weeks, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported on Saturday, citing a senior Pentagon official.
According to the report, the Pentagon is preparing plans detailing which military capabilities and troop deployments Washington intends to scale back as part of a broader shift toward greater European responsibility for the continent's defense.
The proposals are expected to be presented at NATO's next Force Sourcing Conference in June, where alliance members coordinate military contributions, Welt am Sonntag reported.
"We want to provide our allies with the necessary information and clarity to advance the transition toward a European defense ... as quickly and effectively as possible," the Pentagon official told the newspaper.
The reported move is in line with U.S. President Donald Trump's long-standing calls for European NATO members to shoulder a larger share of defense responsibilities.
Welt am Sonntag said Washington's strategic focus on China and the Indo-Pacific, as well as military commitments related to the conflict with Iran, have reinforced the U.S. view that Europe should take primary responsibility for conventional deterrence against Russia.
source https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/us-plans-faster-military-drawdown-from-europe-german-newspaper-reports-4717775
