Europe and Canada Urged to Step Up Military Support for NATO

Across Europe and Canada, leaders are facing new pressure to boost their military contributions to NATO. This push comes as the United States signals it will reduce its forces in Europe, shifting more responsibility to its allies. The call for action was made by a top U. S. general who oversees NATO operations in Europe. He emphasized that European countries and Canada have the tools they need to fill the gap—especially in air and naval forces. The U. S. decision to pull back isn’t sudden. For years, American forces made up a big part of NATO’s rapid-response teams. Now, Washington wants allies to rely less on U. S. support and more on their own capabilities. This shift follows criticism from U. S. leaders who argue that Europe hasn’t done enough to defend itself. But will these countries act fast enough to prevent weaknesses in NATO’s defenses?NATO insists there won’t be major gaps in protection. Officials say Europe and Canada already have the planes, ships, and drones required. The challenge is getting nations to assign these resources to NATO when needed. A major test will come at a NATO summit in July, where leaders must agree on how to make this happen. Behind the scenes, details matter. Reports suggest the U. S. will cut its fighter jets in Europe by a third and stop providing destroyers and submarines for crisis situations. Europe, in turn, may have to handle its own drone surveillance since the U. S. plans to reduce armed drone support. The message is clear: the alliance is changing, and allies must adapt or risk falling short.