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2026-06-13 12:41:58
[US to Significantly Reduce Fighter Jets in Europe] US media reported on the 12th that the US will significantly reduce the number of fighter jets deployed to NATO allies in Europe, while also reducing the deployment of aircraft carriers, warships, and submarines to European allies. The New York Times reported that, according to two senior European officials and written documents provided to NATO allies by the US earlier this month, the US will reduce the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets from 150 to 100; the number of maritime reconnaissance aircraft from 26 to 15; and all eight aerial refueling tankers will be withdrawn. In addition, one US aircraft carrier, a number of warships, one submarine, and one of two bomber units in Europe will be redeployed. The Pentagon declined to provide further details of the force adjustments, only mentioning a statement released earlier this month by US European Command. US European Command said on the 3rd that the US had notified its allies that it would "adjust the US contribution to NATO forces" in accordance with the 2026 National Defense Strategy and the Department of Defense's vision for "NATO 3.0." NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Grinkelwich, Commander of U.S. European Command, stated that the U.S. has clearly indicated that NATO's over-reliance on U.S. forces must change. NATO allies are increasingly capable of independently deploying and defending the alliance, and the U.S. adjustments will ensure that NATO is no longer overly dependent on U.S. forces. Furthermore, given the potential for simultaneous conflicts in multiple theaters of war, these adjustments are imperative. The U.S. has not publicly released a timetable for the adjustment plan. Some U.S. officials have disclosed that the adjustments will begin soon, much earlier than European allies expected. (Xinhua)
