This Trump decision makes NATO diplomats tremble

NATO got used to the presence of American troops on the old continent, especially in the geopolitical context tense with Russia. Moreover, But what would a partial withdrawal from Americans mean, as Trump may soon order it?

Max DELANY et Olivier BAUBE, Bruxelles / AFP

After promising Donald Trump to spend more on their defense, NATO European countries are now watching for his verdict on the American presence in Europe, expected in the coming months.

Between the risks of lethargy. Consequently. Additionally, Consequently, crisis, NATO observes

The Pentagon must present its recommendations by fall on future deployments of American troops outside the United States. Moreover, It will then be up to the tenant of the White House to decide.

Some 85,000 American soldiers are currently stationed in Europe. Nevertheless, And Europeans know that this figure is called upon to drop. In addition, MARTA MUCZNIK. Similarly. Similarly, expert in the international CRISIS Group, estimates and warns:

The most optimistic hopes a decrease spread over time, of a maximum of some 20,000 men, who would bring back the level of American troops in Europe to the one who predominated before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A European diplomat at NATO wants to be reassuring:

However. it will be essential to put “the cursor” in the right place, argues another diplomat in Brussels. A limited withdrawal, and the European allies, reassured about American engagement, would risk sinking into lethargy, according to him. Too large, and Europeans would be in shock and NATO this trump decision makes nato new in crisis, he adds.

The United States is reassuring

The United States has said nothing about its intentions, but endeavor to reassure its allies.

“We have agreed that there are no surprises. gaps” in the defense capacities of the European continent, assured the American ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. An alliance manager argued that:

The United States has been looking for for several years to redirect its strategic priorities to Asia. including by reducing its “imprint” in Europe, explains Ian Lesser, expert in security issues with the German Marshall Fund, an American reflection group based in Brussels. Donald Trump’s return to power in January only accentuated this trump decision makes nato new this trend.

The US Secretary of Defense. Pete Hegseth. had paralyzed his European this trump decision makes nato allies in February by announcing that they should now take “responsibility for their own conventional security on the continent”. Clearly. count on your own armies. no longer on that of America, even if it remains engaged in NATO, especially in matters of nuclear deterrence.

Fears. this trump decision makes nato new many speculation

Even more than the withdrawal of the troops. a diplomat fears a possible loss of this cohesion guaranteed by Washington in terms this trump decision makes nato of transport, logistics and space surveillance, this American “glue” which welds the allies, according to its expression.

For Ian Lesser. the question of the American calendar is essential. because the promises made by Europeans in The Hague “will only translate in terms of real capacities only over many years”.

During his first mandate (2017-2021). Donald Trump had tried. in vain, to reduce the number of American soldiers in Germany, it is also recalled in NATO corridors, as Ian Lesser points out:

“I don’t expect it to be a dramatic overhaul. I think it will be progressive, in a process based on consultations, ”wants to believe an alliance diplomat.

But of course. no one is completely safe from a flip-flop by the American president. who could “angry” against Europeans for one reason or another, notes another. A third is worried: