politics
U.S. Plans to Withdraw Some Forces from Europe as NATO Leaders Meet
The United States has notified European allies of plans to withdraw certain military capabilities from the continent. NATO leaders are scheduled to discuss how quickly European forces can fill resulting gaps when they meet in Ankara next week.
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The United States has notified European allies that it will withdraw some forces and capabilities from NATO's force model. The move leaves capability gaps that alliance members are expected to address. NATO leaders are scheduled to meet in Ankara next week. Discussions are expected to focus on how quickly European governments can assume greater responsibility for their own defense.
A public wargame conducted earlier this year simulated a Russian attack on Lithuania after a ceasefire in Ukraine. The exercise tested how Germany would respond if U.S. support proved limited. The scenario assumed a U.S. administration determined to avoid involvement in another European conflict.
Washington initially declined to discuss invoking NATO's collective defense clause. Germany, as Europe's largest economy and NATO's logistical hub for the eastern flank, was expected to play a central role. The exercise examined legal and political constraints on Berlin's decision-making.
By the end of the simulation, Russia had achieved its immediate military objective. Germany remained focused on managing the crisis rather than altering its course.
Washington recently ended the rotational deployment of more than 1,000 U.S. troops in Lithuania without an immediate replacement. A five-part English-language podcast titled "Ernstfall" based on the wargame is being released this week by WELT. The podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
