WASHINGTON — The United States plans to significantly reduce the number of fighter jets and other assets it makes available for NATO operations in Europe, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The reductions include cutting F-16 and F-15E fighter jets from roughly 150 to about 100, maritime reconnaissance aircraft from 26 to 15, and removing all eight aerial refueling tanker jets previously committed, the New York Times reported on June 12, citing two senior European officials. The plan also involves reallocating an aircraft carrier, a missile-launching submarine, several warships and one of two bomber task forces.
The Trump administration has informed NATO allies of the changes as part of a broader effort to adjust U.S. commitments and encourage greater burden-sharing by European members, officials said. The moves were discussed in closed-door meetings in recent weeks.
U.S. European Command issued a statement last week referring to “rightsizing” NATO force model contributions, though it did not provide specific details on the aircraft and naval assets. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the precise numbers reported.
The adjustments come amid ongoing discussions about NATO’s defense posture. European officials have expressed private concerns about the timing, particularly given the security situation in the region, while U.S. officials have emphasized the need for allies to increase their own contributions beyond the 2 percent of GDP defense spending target.
NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, has called on European allies and Canada to fill potential gaps with manned and unmanned aircraft and naval vessels. “Nations just need to assign the capabilities they have to NATO,” he said in a recent statement.
The planned reductions would affect high-readiness assets available for crisis response. Details on the exact timeline for implementation and the full scope of changes remain subject to further discussions within the alliance.
As of June 13, 2026, NATO officials were assessing the implications and considering alternative plans to maintain deterrence and defense capabilities. The U.S. nuclear guarantee to Europe remains unchanged, according to officials. No immediate public response was available from all NATO member states regarding the specific cuts. Further details on how the alliance will adapt its force model were not disclosed.
