Media: European allies replaced most US forces

European NATO allies have largely replaced the military assets that the United States removed from its contingency plans for a potential conflict in Europe, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Sir John Stringer said ahead of next week's NATO summit in Ankara.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Stringer said European allies had strengthened their military contributions following Washington's decision to reduce the forces it would deploy to Europe in the event of a war or major crisis.

“European allies have definitely stepped up in terms of backfilling the adjustment in the US forces in Europe,” Stringer said, describing the development as evidence of “a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.”

The United States recently announced significant reductions to the forces it would send to Europe during a conflict or emergency, prompting NATO's military command to ask European member states to identify additional forces they could commit to the alliance.

Stringer, a former Royal Air Force fighter pilot, said European countries had filled most of the gaps created by the U.S. decision. In areas where equivalent capabilities were unavailable, allies were seeking to achieve the same operational effect using different military assets.

Burden-sharing and burden-shifting “is now being done in a sensible, proportionate way, absolutely driven by military logic,” he said, adding that European allies were prepared to adapt to changing U.S. priorities and commitments.

According to Stringer, the need for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defence has been developing for years, with European allies steadily increasing their contributions to the alliance.

The shift comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to NATO since returning to the White House has raised concerns among European allies and accelerated discussions on increasing defence spending across the continent.

Stringer also said NATO members remain committed to higher defence expenditure targets.

“All the nations, all 32 agreed that they would get to 3.5% by 2035 and have a credible path to get there,” he said.

“NATO will expect all nations, including the UK, to live by their commitments,” Stringer added.

By Sabina Mammadli