Der Spiegel Exclusive: US Secretly Notifies NATO Allies of Sweeping Military Contribution Cuts — Jets Minus One-Third, Bombers Halved, Zero Submarines, Zero Drones

Der Spiegel published a bombshell exclusive on May 26, 2026 reporting that the US Pentagon has secretly notified European NATO allies of sweeping upcoming reductions in American military contributions to the alliance — going far beyond the already-confirmed 10,200+ troop cuts. The disclosure, delivered by Pentagon adviser **Alexander Velez-Green** at a confidential NATO meeting in Brussels, left European attendees described as 'shocked' by its scope. **The military contribution reductions notified:** - **Fighter jets** available to NATO: cut by **one-third** - **Strategic bombers**: reduced to **half** the previous number - **US submarines**: **zero** contributed to NATO - **US drones (UAVs)**: **zero** contributed to NATO - **Warships**: significantly reduced European officials had anticipated gradual and minor adjustments to US force posture — not a structural reduction across every major warfighting platform simultaneously. **Pentagon framing:** The cuts are framed by the US as reallocation toward a potential conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific — echoing the Defense News May 19 report that US forces available to NATO during crises are being structurally shrunk. The message to European allies: they must have a credible gap-filling plan ready before the **Ankara Leaders' Summit (July 7–8, 2026)**. **Significance:** These hardware contribution reductions are qualitatively distinct from — and in addition to — the 10,200+ ground troops already confirmed as withdrawn or cancelled. The fighter jet, bomber, submarine, and drone cuts directly affect NATO's air, maritime, and ISR architecture: - The submarine reduction removes the alliance's most credible anti-submarine warfare and long-range strike deterrent in the North Atlantic - The drone reduction strips NATO of persistent ISR coverage over the eastern flank - The fighter jet reduction degrades allied air defense and strike capacity - The bomber reduction weakens NATO's nuclear signaling posture **Context:** The notification came just four days after the Helsingborg NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting closed (May 22), where Rubio's 'Like any alliance, it has to be good for everyone who's involved' framing provided no reassurance. The Spiegel disclosures now reveal the full scope of the US military disengagement that was underway even as Helsingborg diplomacy was ongoing. European allies are now racing to develop a credible gap-filling strategy before Ankara — where these hardware commitments will become the summit's defining operational agenda item alongside the deferred 0.25% GDP Ukraine pledge.