The development comes as the United States reshapes its military commitments to NATO, reflecting Washington’s growing focus on preparing for potential conflicts in multiple regions, particularly the Indo-Pacific. In May, the U.S. informed allies it would reduce the pool of forces and capabilities earmarked for NATO operations, including fighter jets, drones, refuelling aircraft, naval assets and strategic bombers.
The move aligns with repeated calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for European allies to shoulder a greater share of the alliance’s defence burden. NATO has since been working to ensure that any reduction in U.S. contributions does not weaken the alliance’s ability to respond to crises.
According to a NATO source, European allies have moved quickly to increase their own commitments, leaving strategic bombers as the only major capability gap yet to be fully addressed.
Why it matters
The announcement is expected to reassure allies that NATO’s collective defence plans remain credible despite a reduced U.S. military contribution. It also marks one of the clearest signs yet that European members are taking greater responsibility for the alliance’s security, a long-standing demand from Washington.
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The progress could ease concerns about NATO’s readiness as the alliance adapts to shifting global security priorities. At the same time, the remaining shortfall in strategic bombers highlights that Europe still depends heavily on unique U.S. military capabilities that are difficult to replace.
Stakeholders
NATO: The alliance is seeking to maintain military readiness while adapting to a more balanced sharing of defence responsibilities among members.
United States: Washington is reducing certain NATO commitments as it reallocates military resources to address broader global challenges, including the Indo-Pacific, while encouraging allies to become more self-reliant.
European NATO members: European countries are increasing troop numbers, equipment and defence spending to compensate for reduced U.S. contributions and strengthen NATO’s deterrence posture.
Russia: Moscow is closely monitoring NATO’s evolving force posture, particularly as the alliance continues to reinforce its eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Defence industry: Increased European defence commitments are expected to support demand for military equipment, logistics, surveillance systems and advanced weapons across the continent.
Future outlook
The Ankara summit is expected to reinforce NATO’s push toward a more balanced transatlantic defence structure, with European allies likely announcing further increases in defence spending and capability development.
However, replacing highly specialized U.S. assets such as strategic bombers, intelligence platforms and long-range logistics will remain a long-term challenge. Future discussions are therefore likely to focus on strengthening Europe’s own defence industrial base while preserving U.S. extended deterrence and nuclear guarantees within the alliance.The rapid effort by European allies to fill capability gaps reflects a broader transformation within NATO. For decades, the alliance relied heavily on U.S. military power to provide many of its most advanced capabilities. Washington’s decision to reduce its contributions signals that Europe can no longer assume the same level of American support in every contingency.
Rather than indicating a U.S. withdrawal from NATO, the shift reflects a strategic rebalancing. As Washington increasingly prioritizes competition with China and prepares for the possibility of simultaneous conflicts across multiple regions, European allies are expected to assume greater responsibility for defending the continent.
The speed with which Europe has reportedly filled most capability gaps also demonstrates that years of increased defence spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are beginning to translate into tangible military capacity. Many allies have accelerated procurement of fighter aircraft, air-defence systems, drones and logistics capabilities, reducing some of NATO’s dependence on U.S. forces.
Nevertheless, the remaining shortfall in strategic bombers highlights the limits of European military autonomy. Capabilities such as long-range strike, strategic airlift, nuclear deterrence and global intelligence remain areas where the United States provides unique assets that few allies can replicate.
The developments ahead of the Ankara summit therefore suggest that NATO is evolving toward a more balanced partnership rather than a fundamentally weaker alliance. The challenge will be maintaining that balance while ensuring that reduced U.S. commitments do not create vulnerabilities that potential adversaries could seek to exploit.
With information from Reuters.
