Media: US withdrawal may cripple NATO troop mobility

In a recent article, Politico unveils that if the US withdraws from its security commitments in Europe, European countries will face severe, potentially catastrophic challenges in troop mobility and military logistics. 

A decade-old defence strategy built on American reinforcements is unravelling, with European military planners warning of fatal consequences if the US retreats from its NATO commitments.

Recent war game simulations have highlighted a glaring vulnerability: Europe’s ability to move troops and heavy equipment across the continent relies heavily on American logistics.

"These corridors are critical because they allow NATO and our allies to reach the eastern flank faster," said Lithuanian Deputy Defence Minister Tomas Godliauskas. 

But as the US signals a reduced role in European defence under Donald Trump’s second administration, leaders are confronting the reality that longstanding assumptions may no longer hold. 

"Whether or not the United States stays involved in NATO or Europe is a legitimate question," said former US Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges. "It would be a terrible mistake for the United States."

Experts warn that without American cargo planes, ships, refueling infrastructure, and cyber capabilities, European reinforcements could arrive too slowly to counter a Russian offensive — especially along key routes like the Suwałki Gap. “There are important capabilities, which we are depending on the U.S. for,” said Dutch defence expert Kimberley Kruijver. 

She and others note that Europe lacks the heavy-lift and logistical infrastructure needed to act independently. Efforts to improve coordination, including new EU mobility strategies and NATO’s JSEC command in Germany, are underway. But the systems in place remain dependent on American leadership. If Washington walks away, as many fear, Europe could find itself preparing for the wrong war — one in which the ships never come, and the troops can’t get to the front in time.

"The [Russian] threat will only get worse," Hodges warned. “The problem [of military mobility] has got to be solved — regardless of whether the US is there or not.”

By Naila Huseynova