NATO Article 5 planning: Mark Rutte says US is not withdrawing more troops from Europe

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday that a US decision to hold back some support would not weaken current NATO deployments in Europe. Rutte said the United States was not pulling more troops from Europe. NATO commanders were still adjusting defence plans after Washington signalled cuts to some crisis support.

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The United States told allies on June 3 that it would no longer commit several major assets in a crisis. These included an aircraft carrier and support ships. They also included aerial refuelling planes and dozens of fighter jets. Rutte said the change focused on wartime roles, not peacetime basing.

NATO Article 5 plans and US support

Rutte said the issue was about how NATO would act if its defence plans were used. "This is not about where forces and assets are currently located,\" Rutte said. \"Its about who would do what if our defence plans were activated.\" Rutte added, \"So, lets say in case of an Article 5 situation.\"

Under Article 5, the 32 allies agree that an attack on one is an attack on all. The pledge does not require military help, though many allies may respond. The United States has NATO’s largest armed forces. Rutte also said the United States did not plan to remove nuclear weapons from Europe.

NATO Force Model and US gaps

NATO’s \"Force Model\" sets out which forces can be used in peace, crisis, or war. It lists the military assets commanders can call forward in stages. The phases cover the first six months of conflict. Rutte said the model remains NATO’s Plan A for organised readiness.

Rutte said the Pentagon’s shift reflects wider US priorities beyond Europe. The United States wants to focus on other threats, including China in the Indo-Pacific region. Rutte said NATO’s top commander, US Gen. Alex Grynkewich, was preparing backup options for Europe’s defence.

Rutte said Grynkewich believed other allies could cover many missing capabilities. Some countries already have the needed equipment, Rutte said. Others may field it soon. \"The overall picture is looking good,\" Rutte said, while noting that some held-back assets surprised European partners.

Several of the affected items are limited in Europe, which adds pressure on allies. The United States has asked how countries will replace key assets or cope without them. Washington wants answers before the NATO summit on July 7-8. President Donald Trump is due to meet other leaders then.

NATO defence ministers and summit questions

Rutte spoke before chairing a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels. European allies and Canada also want clearer detail from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They want to understand the Trump administration’s summit plans in Ankara, Turkey. Hegseth missed the last ministers meeting in February.

Allies were also unsettled by mixed signals on US troop levels. Trump announced plans last month to send 5,000 additional US troops to Poland. The move caused confusion. The administration continued to say it wanted to reduce, not expand, the US military footprint in Europe.

Kosovo cutbacks and KFOR troop numbers

NATO is also reducing its security force in Kosovo, known as KFOR. NATO’s military headquarters announced the cut on Friday. US troops are expected to be among those leaving. The United States has 590 troops in KFOR, second among 31 contributors after Italy with 907 personnel.

US Black Hawk helicopters are based at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo. KFOR first deployed in 1999 to maintain peace between Kosovo and Serbia. The force once had about 50,000 personnel. Numbers fell as tensions eased, although NATO added 1,000 troops in 2023 after new violence.

Rutte confirmed on Wednesday that more than 1,000 personnel would leave KFOR. Grynkewich said Kosovo was calm enough to optimise KFOR’s size. The drawdown adds to wider questions about how NATO members share tasks. Rutte said planning work continued as allies adjusted to US changes.

With inputs from PTI