US to Withdraw Fighter Jets, Destroyers and Submarines from NATO in European Drawdown

May 26, 2026

An envoy of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed NATO officials at Brussels headquarters in late May 2026 on plans to reduce military contributions to the alliance. The U.S. will cut fighter jets by a third, provide only half the previous number of strategic bombers, withdraw all submarines from NATO, and reduce destroyers and reconnaissance drones. Further details will be provided at a force generation conference in early June 2026.

US military drawdown from NATO

▪The U.S. will provide further details on the NATO military reduction plan at a force generation conference in early June 2026.
▪An envoy of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed senior officials from NATO member states on the U.S. military reduction plan at NATO headquarters in Brussels in late May 2026.
▪The U.S. intends to significantly reduce military contributions available to assist European allies in a crisis, including fighter jets, warships and mid-air refueling aircraft.

Transatlantic tensions under Trump

▪U.S. President Donald Trump fiercely criticized European allies for a lack of support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz for shipping amid the war on Iran.
▪U.S. President Donald Trump questioned whether Washington was bound to honor NATO's mutual defense pact.
▪U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.
▪U.S. President Donald Trump's ambition to take control of Greenland, a Danish overseas territory, has inflamed transatlantic tensions.
▪The NATO alliance is under unprecedented strain, with some European countries concerned that Washington may withdraw outright.
▪U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering withdrawing from the NATO alliance.
▪U.S. President Donald Trump has slammed European allies for not spending enough on their militaries.

Reduced US force commitments

▪U.S. envoy Alexander Velez-Green briefed NATO officials on the U.S. force reduction plan during a closed-door meeting in late May 2026.
▪The U.S. no longer intends to provide any submarines to NATO.
▪The number of U.S. fighter jets available to NATO is set to fall by a third.
▪The U.S. plans to significantly scale back the provision of armed reconnaissance drones to NATO.
▪The U.S. aims to provide only half the previous number of strategic bombers to NATO.
▪The U.S. Navy is set to make fewer destroyers available to NATO.

European defense responsibilities

▪A NATO spokeswoman said that with Europe and Canada investing more in defense, military responsibilities within NATO could be reorganized.
▪A NATO spokeswoman said there had been an over-reliance on the U.S. in NATO force planning.
▪Europe would be forced to provide its own reconnaissance drones under the U.S. military reduction plan.

Perspective of European NATO member states

▪Europe would be forced to provide its own reconnaissance drones under the U.S. military reduction plan.

Perspective of NATO leadership

▪A NATO spokeswoman said that with Europe and Canada investing more in defense, military responsibilities within NATO could be reorganized.
▪A NATO spokeswoman said there had been an over-reliance on the U.S. in NATO force planning.