The United States Plans to Reduce Its Participation in Some NATO Structures

SadaNews - The United States intends to reduce its participation in some structures of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including its forces and advisory groups, according to a report by the American newspaper "Washington Post".

This move is the latest indication of President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to decrease military presence in Europe amidst political and economic disagreements, according to several officials familiar with the matter.

This imminent action will affect approximately 200 military personnel and reduce U.S. participation in nearly 30 NATO-affiliated organizations, including its centers of excellence that aim to train alliance forces in various areas of warfare, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Instead of a complete withdrawal, the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) plans not to replace personnel as their missions conclude, a process that may take years, while two sources reported that U.S. participation in the centers will not cease entirely.

According to three officials, the advisory groups that will see budget cuts include those dedicated to energy security and naval warfare in the alliance, and the Pentagon will also reduce its involvement in NATO’s official organizations dedicated to special operations and intelligence.

"Washington Post" reports that this change has been under consideration for months, with one source revealing that it is unrelated to Trump's escalating threats to seize the Danish-owned Greenland.

Trump's provocations have faced widespread condemnation from European leaders and many lawmakers in the U.S. Congress, who fear that the president is causing "irreparable harm" to NATO.

During a press conference at the White House on Tuesday, Trump stated that his administration "would reach a solution that satisfies NATO and us" regarding Greenland, asserting that the United States needs the island "for security purposes".

The U.S. president's pledge to control the territory, despite repeated assertions from the Danish government that it is not for sale, has created the biggest internal crisis within NATO in decades, and recently NATO countries deployed military forces in Greenland in an effort to demonstrate their seriousness in addressing Trump's concerns about its vulnerability, but these efforts failed to persuade him to abandon the idea.

A Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to "Washington Post".

In contrast, a NATO spokesperson stated in a statement that "adjustments to U.S. troop presence and personnel distribution are not unusual," noting that the alliance is in "close contact" with Washington regarding the overall distribution of its forces.

Since Trump's return to office, the U.S. military has begun withdrawing its forces from Europe, under pressure from the administration for allies there to take the lead in the continent's collective defense.

For example, the Pentagon unexpectedly announced last year the withdrawal of a brigade from Romania and cut security assistance programs for the three Baltic states bordering Russia, which have raised concerns of a direct conflict between NATO and the Kremlin as a result of its invasion of Ukraine over the years.

Under pressure from the Trump administration, NATO agreed last summer to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next ten years, including 1.5 percent designated for infrastructure and other civil projects.

U.S. lawmakers, including some prominent Republicans, have objected to the administration's moves in Europe, and are pushing for funding for affected security assistance programs, despite Pentagon directives.