FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe administration of US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused European governments of insufficient investment in their militaries and excessive reliance on US defense, while urging both Europe and Asian allies to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP.
The United States is planning to significantly reduce the number of aircraft and warships made available for NATO operations in Europe, Reuters reported on Friday, citing two senior European officials.
The decision would limit NATO's ability to launch long-range strikes and conduct surveillance, the report said.
The US plan includes reducing the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets from approximately 150 to 100, as well as reducing maritime reconnaissance aircraft from 26 to 15 and removing all eight aerial refueling tanker aircraft it had previously made available to Europe, the report said.
It also intends to reassign a missile-launching submarine and an aircraft carrier, along with several warships and dozens of aircraft that join the carrier's missions, the New York Times reports, adding that one of two bomber groups previously assigned to the defense of Europe could also be reassigned.
US Eastern Command said in a statement last week that it would "fairly scale" its contributions to the NATO Force Model, without providing further details.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused European governments of insufficient investment in their militaries and excessive reliance on US defense, while urging both Europe and Asian allies to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP.
The decision also affects Kosovo.
NATO announced today that it will proceed with a gradual reorganisation of the KFOR force in Kosovo over the next year, citing the stable security situation prevailing in the country, Reuters writes.
The KFOR mission has been in Kosovo since 1999.
“NATO and KFOR remain fully committed to security and stability in Kosovo,” said Alexis J. Grinkevich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
"This commitment has contributed to strengthening stability, as security organizations in Kosovo have become more capable and effective. Current conditions create an opportunity to further optimize the size and configuration of KFOR," he added.
According to NATO, the planned reductions will be implemented in a controlled manner and will follow the national rotation and repatriation cycles of military forces participating in the mission from now until next year.
NATO stressed that the changes will be implemented gradually and based on prevailing conditions on the ground, while clarifying that the process could be reversed if the security situation changes.
Budallalliqe! Europa ka shume kapacitete me teper..