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Trump tells NATO: 3% US force cut, cancels Poland brigade

5/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump's administration will tell NATO it will cut the U.S. conventional force pool for Europe.
The cut will be announced at a Friday Brussels defence meeting by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby and Alex Velez-Green.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said cut cancels a 4,000-troop brigade for Poland and a Tomahawk missile unit in Germany, representing 3 % of U.S. forces in Europe, and will not weaken NATO defence.

History

Historical Context

After the Cold War, President Bill Clinton ordered the 1993 drawdown that cut U.S. Army Europe’s footprint from 858 bases to 415 installations, shrinking the force to about 122,000 troops by 1992. The reduction set a precedent cited by Elbridge Colby and Alex Velez-Green in 2024 when they urged a 3 % cut of a 4,000-troop brigade in Germany, prompting NATO leader Mark Rutte to warn against eroding defense.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump's administration will tell NATO it will cut the U.S. conventional force pool for Europe.
The cut will be announced at a Friday Brussels defence meeting by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby and Alex Velez-Green.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said cut cancels a 4,000-troop brigade for Poland and a Tomahawk missile unit in Germany, representing 3 % of U.S. forces in Europe, and will not weaken NATO defence.

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