Plans sharp reduction in fighter jets, warships for Nato operations in Europe: Report

Plans to sharply cut fighter jets and warships available for NATO operations in Europe reflect a strategic shift in U.S. posture. The New York Times, citing two senior European officials, reported Washington would reduce assets in Europe, limiting NATO's long-range strike and surveillance capabilities. The plan would trim F-16 and F-15E fleets from about 150 to roughly 100 aircraft, reduce maritime reconnaissance planes from 26 to 15, and remove all eight aerial refuelling tankers. It also envisions redeploying a missile-launching submarine and an aircraft carrier, with one of two bomber groups potentially reassigned. Reuters could not verify the report, and NATO and the U.S. Defense Department did not immediately comment. The U.S. Eastern Command described its contributions to the NATO Force Model as being ‘right-sized’ but offered no further details.