Washington will officially begin discussions with its allies about the possibility of withdrawing part of its forces from Europe after the NATO summit in The Hague - US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on May 17, warning: "Our patience is running out."
The US has been pursuing the goal of reducing its military presence in Europe for more than 30 years. Now, with outspoken statements from US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, Washington is preparing concrete action - starting with formal negotiations after the NATO summit scheduled for June in the Netherlands.
We will start those discussions after the summit, at some point this year... All allies are ready, Whitaker told Reuters.
We will not continue to be patient with further delays... The rest is to deal with the actual consequences, Whitaker added.
NBC News previously revealed that Washington is considering withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe. President Donald Trump later confirmed the possibility of a partial withdrawal, although the specific time has not been announced. There are currently nearly 84,000 US troops stationed in Europe - the most concentrated in Germany and Poland, along with smaller units in Romania, Estonia and Lithuania.
According to a report by the International Strategic Research Institute (IISS) cited by Politico, the price for Europe to cover the shortage of US withdrawals could be up to 1,000 billion USD in 25 years, including the cost of new purchases and maintenance of weapons, manpower, and logistics.
The list of military equipment needed to replace the US presence includes: 400 tactical fighter jets, 20 axis ships, 24 long-range anti-aircraft missile systems
The US is currently NATO's largest financial sponsor, and President Trump has repeatedly criticized European countries for not achieving their committed defense spending targets, asking them to "stand on their own two feet" in protecting regional security.
Observers say the recent drastic moves reflect the US's trend of gradually reducing global military commitment, especially in Europe - where many allies still rely heavily on Washington's "unprotected".
Meanwhile, the question is: Is NATO ready for a future with a shrinking role in the US? The answer may be revealed... after the June summit.
