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The US has informed NATO allies it will gradually reduce its military commitments to the alliance, including strategic bombers, fighter jets, drones, submarines, and warships.

This comes as GCHQ's director warned Russia is systematically targeting UK infrastructure, and Europe summoned Russian ambassadors after Moscow warned of further strikes on Kyiv.

Read more below ⤵️

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Major Story

🇺🇸🇪🇺 US to scale back NATO military commitments

Washington has informed NATO allies it will gradually reduce the number of strategic bombers, fighter jets, drones, submarines, and warships dedicated to the alliance, with the announcement delivered at a closed-door meeting of NATO policy directors on Friday by Pentagon adviser Alexander Velez-Green. 

The exact scope of the cutbacks has not been finalised, no timeline was provided, and the US separately assured allies there would be no changes to its nuclear deterrence posture.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged to NATO foreign ministers that troop and weapons drawdowns were forthcoming, describing the process as coordinated with allies, while a NATO spokesperson said the shift reflects a broader rebalancing of responsibilities as European members increase their own defence investment. 

A Washington-based defence analyst noted that gaps in submarines and strategic bombers would be particularly difficult to fill quickly, but argued Europe should focus on identifying its own defence needs rather than replacing US assets on a like-for-like basis. 

Allies are expected to discuss the reductions further at NATO's Force Generation conference next month.

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