Nato allies worry that the six-month review, announced in June, will lead to large-scale cuts to the roughly 80,000 US forces across Europe and punish countries that President Donald Trump believes failed to support the US-Israeli war against Iran.
The Pentagon’s “Terms of Reference,” which have not been previously detailed, explain the steps that the internal review will take and some of the criteria that will be used to evaluate US basing decisions throughout Europe.
Trump has also fumed that European Nato allies have long relied on US security guarantees while providing inadequate support for the Iran war. Accusations include that some allies failed to grant basing and overflight access to US warplanes, or did it too slowly.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has expressed some understanding of Trump’s disappointment but said the large majority of Europeans have been helpful.
The Pentagon official said the Trump administration had made clear that “we are transitioning to provide critical, more limited support with allies in the lead.”