The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering scrapping the longstanding role of the US in leading NATO's military operations in Europe, NBC News has reported, citing unnamed defense officials.
Western security services and politicians are worried about a potential exit of US troops from NATO member states in Central and Eastern Europe, Bild has reported, citing unnamed sources. The tabloid suggests that Russia is trying to get the US to radically downgrade its military presence on the continent.
Europeans cannot assume that America's military presence on the continent will last forever, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stressed during bombshell remarks in Warsaw.
US Vice President JD Vance has taken a swipe at European governments for what he described as their censorship of free speech and their political opponents, while largely avoiding the question of how to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine.
