U.S. to cut aircraft, ships available to NATO

May 26, 2026

Summary

Spiegel reported that Washington plans to reduce aircraft, ships, and other forces available to NATO in a crisis.

Why this matters

The report points to a possible shift in how NATO would respond to a crisis and could increase pressure on European members and Canada to provide more military capabilities. It also reflects broader uncertainty about the U.S. role in the alliance.

The United States planned to reduce the military forces it makes available to support NATO allies in a crisis, including fighter jets, warships, and refueling aircraft, German outlet Spiegel reported Tuesday.

According to Spiegel, an envoy for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed senior officials from member countries at NATO headquarters in Brussels late last week.

Three sources familiar with the matter had told Reuters that the Trump administration planned to inform allies last week that it would shrink the pool of U.S. military capabilities available to the alliance during a crisis.

Spiegel reported that the U.S. aimed to provide half the previous number of strategic bombers. It also cited U.S. envoy Alexander Velez-Green as saying in the closed-door meeting that the number of U.S. fighter jets available to NATO would fall by a third.

Under the changes, Europe would have to provide its own reconnaissance drones, while the U.S. planned to sharply reduce the armed drones it provides, Spiegel reported.

Spiegel said the U.S. would give further details at a force generation conference in early June.

NATO has faced strain as some European countries expressed concern that Washington could reduce its role in the alliance. President Donald Trump has criticized European allies for defense spending levels and said he would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany. He also criticized European support for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping during the war on Iran, and said he was considering withdrawing from NATO while questioning whether Washington was required to honor the alliance’s mutual defense pact.

A NATO spokeswoman told Spiegel there had been an “over-reliance” on the U.S. in NATO force planning and that, as Europe and Canada invested more in defense, military responsibilities within the alliance could be reorganized.

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