Trump’s pressure on NATO is reshaping Europe’s defenses. Will it break the alliance?
At least eight member countries are beginning to diversify away from their reliance on U.S. weapons, technology and defense companies.
In Romania's Constanta, the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, named after American cities, has hosted U.S. troops since 1999. These troops, numbering around 2,000, initially supported America's conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, in 2020, as the Trump administration initiated a significant reshaping of U.S. military presence in Europe, roughly half of these troops departed.
This departure at the base, known locally as MK, which sits on the alliance's eastern edge as Ukraine borders the region, left residents uneasy. The base, situated at the alliance's eastern border during a period of increased Russian drone activity within NATO territory, found an unexpected ally in its continued presence. Nine KC-135 Stratotankers were stationed there to refuel American military jets and bombers involved in the Iran conflict.
Their presence and the supporting staff effectively mitigated the earlier troop reductions, underscoring the enduring reliance on European bases by Washington. This dynamic reveals a complex interplay between Trump's strategic vision for NATO and the practical realities of maintaining European defense alliances in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
