Europe's Defense Evolution
NATO Considers New Defense Plans for Europe as US Prioritizes Other Conflicts
NATO's top military commander is drawing up backup plans to defend Europe after the US announced it would pull an aircraft carrier strike group and cruise-missile submarines out of the European theater. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, who leads both NATO forces and US European Command, is now asking allies to fill those gaps — and fast. Newsday reported his remarks came at the ILA Berlin Air Show on June 11.
The cuts are part of a broader US pivot away from Europe. Washington's new defense strategy classifies Russia as a "persistent but manageable threat" and shifts focus to the Indo-Pacific and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Europe and Canada have been told to provide manned and unmanned aircraft and naval vessels to replace what the US is taking away.
What the US Is Taking Away From Europe
The scope of the cuts is significant. The US is reducing available fighter jets by roughly 33%, dropping from about 150 to 100 aircraft. Maritime patrol planes fall from 26 to 15. All 8 aerial refueling tankers previously assigned to NATO crisis plans are being withdrawn entirely. The Independent confirmed these figures were delivered to NATO officials in a closed-door briefing in Brussels on May 22.
On top of the air cuts, the US is pulling a full aircraft carrier strike group — including its support destroyers and air wing — out of Europe and sending it to the Pacific. Cruise-missile submarines are also leaving the NATO crisis pool. About 5,000 US troops are being pulled from Germany, bringing the total US military presence in Europe to around 76,000 — the legal floor set by Congress.
Grynkewich Calls Out an 'Unhealthy Co-Dependence' on the US
Grynkewich has not sugarcoated the situation. He has described the current alliance structure as having an "unhealthy co-dependence" on American assets. He says NATO's regional defense plans are still "fully executable" — but only if European allies step up quickly. Yahoo News noted he made the formal call for allies to fill the gaps at a force-sourcing conference at NATO's Supreme Headquarters in early June.
The US envoy Alexander Velez-Green, a representative of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, delivered the specific cut lists to NATO officials in Brussels. European diplomats were described as "bewildered" by the speed and scale of the changes. They had expected gradual adjustments — not the removal of high-end assets like tankers and submarines all at once.
Europe Faces a Submarine Gap It Cannot Quickly Close
The loss of US submarines is seen as the sharpest immediate risk. European navies already face a shortage of attack submarines, and there is no quick replacement for the cruise-missile capability that US subs provided. Defense analyst Giuseppe Spatafora warned that while individual cuts may seem manageable, the combined loss of tankers, submarines, and a carrier strike group "poses challenges to European deterrence readiness."
The US is also pushing allies to spend more. Washington has urged NATO members to hit 3.5% of GDP on defense, with some officials floating 5% as the new benchmark for a "credible" partner. MyNorthwest reported Grynkewich framed the US role going forward as focused on "limited but critical capabilities" — a signal that Europe must now build what it previously borrowed.
July NATO Summit Seen as Moment of Truth for Allies
All eyes are now on the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara in July 2026. European nations are expected to formally commit to new burden-sharing targets or risk further US withdrawals. The pressure is real: the 2026 US National Defense Strategy explicitly downgraded Europe, and the Trump administration has shown little patience for allies that do not move fast. WUSA9 noted Grynkewich is still working through what adjusted plans will look like.
Defense analyst Jennifer Kavanagh argues Europe should not try to replace US assets "like-for-like." She says European nations need to identify their specific defense needs and could realistically achieve greater self-reliance within five years. But the clock is already ticking — and the carriers and submarines will not wait. Stamford Advocate confirmed the alliance is now in active planning mode to address the gaps.
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