The U.S. Department of Defense plans to gradually reduce its participation in several structures of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), marking a new adjustment to the American military presence in Europe. The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to scale back overseas military commitments, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.
The planned reduction will affect approximately 200 U.S. military personnel and will diminish American involvement in nearly 30 NATO organizations. These include several Centers of Excellence, which focus on training and preparing allied forces across a range of modern warfare and security disciplines. Officials stressed that the change will not involve an abrupt or complete withdrawal. Instead, the Pentagon intends to implement the reductions gradually by not replacing personnel as their current postings expire, a process that could take several years to complete.
U.S. officials said that American participation in the Centers of Excellence will not end entirely, but will be scaled back. Washington is expected to maintain a presence in selected centers, though with a more limited role than in the past. Among the advisory bodies most affected by the cuts are those dedicated to energy security and naval warfare, two areas considered critical within NATO’s strategic planning framework. Reduced staffing levels are expected to limit direct U.S. involvement in these technical and coordination-focused groups.
The Pentagon will also scale down its participation in official NATO organizations linked to special operations and intelligence. However, one official noted that some of these responsibilities will be shifted elsewhere within the alliance, which could lessen the operational impact of the changes. Defense officials emphasized that the decision does not signal a withdrawal from NATO or a weakening of U.S. commitments to European allies.
The United States will continue to play a central role within the alliance, though with a more focused and selective presence. The adjustment comes amid a broader debate over burden-sharing within NATO and the future of U.S. leadership in European security. As allies closely monitor the implementation of these measures, the gradual nature of the reduction suggests a redefinition—rather than a dismantling—of America’s military role within the alliance.
