Europe Fills NATO Gaps after US Cuts

At next week's summit in Ankara, NATO is expected to announce that its European members have filled nearly all the gaps left by the US in its defense plans. The main missing link remains strategic bombers, where Washington will provide only one aircraft instead of two, according to a Reuters source.

In May, the US told its allies it would reduce military capabilities for crisis situations, a move that raised urgent questions ahead of the summit.

The reduction is intended to end an "unhealthy co-dependence" on US forces, as Washington faces the threat of simultaneous conflicts in multiple locations around the world, according to NATO's Supreme Commander, General Alexus Grynkewich. Secretary General Mark Rutte had already indicated in June that other allies would make up for the shortfalls.

The US cuts have affected several areas. The number of F-15 fighter jets allocated to the alliance will drop by a third to 99, Reaper drones will be cut in half to 12, and the number of tanker aircraft will fall from 79 to 63. NATO will also have only one US aircraft carrier at its disposal instead of two, fewer patrol aircraft, nine destroyers instead of 17, and will lose its submarine equipped with cruise missiles entirely.

(Reuters, Max)