According to reports, the U.S. has conveyed to its allies that it does not plan to participate in future military exercises in Europe.
Exercises scheduled through 2025 are not impacted by the freeze.
Swedish outlet Expressen reports, “If the ruling remains in force, it means that Sweden and the rest of the NATO member states will have to plan exercises without the participation of the United States or small American units in the air force.”
Per Expressen: (via Google Translate)
The information is scarce, but the announcement concerns exercises where the US is an important piece of the puzzle for the entirety of the exercise activities in Europe and, by extension, the defense of the European continent.
According to Expressen’s sources, the American planning freeze does not apply to exercises that have been decided to be carried out in 2025.
It concerns exercises that are currently on the “drawing board”, i.e. a little further ahead, says one of Expressen’s sources.
If the announcement stands, it means that Sweden and other NATO countries are forced to plan exercises without American participation or with only small American units in the exercises.
The news, if accurate, underscores President Trump’s position regarding NATO countries and his criticism of their failure to meet the current goal of spending two percent of GDP on defense.
President Trump has asserted that the U.S. accounts for over 70% of NATO’s funding.
Hellbound and Down 