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United States is pushing for a major reset of NATO.
Under Donald Trump, Washington is pressuring the Alliance to scale back many overseas initiatives, including ending its key mission in Iraq. In recent months, the U.S. has also lobbied to reduce NATO’s peacekeeping presence in Kosovo and to block Ukraine and Indo-Pacific partners from official participation in this year’s summit in Ankara, according to Politico citing four NATO diplomats.
The move reflects the White House’s desire to redefine NATO strictly as a Euro-Atlantic defense alliance and roll back decades of expansion into crisis management, global partnerships, and values-based initiatives—an approach long criticized by Trump and his political base.
Officials say Washington wants NATO to scale down missions beyond core deterrence and defense tasks, a shift some insiders describe as a “return to factory settings.” The push could lead to rapid reductions in Alliance activities in former operational theaters and exclude certain countries—such as Ukraine and Australia—from official summit meetings this summer. Diplomats warned the idea has already drawn pushback from some allies, who argue partnerships are essential for deterrence.
U.S. officials are urging allies not to invite Ukraine and four Indo-Pacific partners—Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand—to formal summit sessions, though they could still attend side events. NATO said partner participation will be announced later.
Alliance staff have also proposed canceling this year’s public forum, a traditional side event where leaders and experts discuss security issues. Instead, NATO plans to hold a defense-industry forum in Ankara, officially citing budget constraints. Some diplomats believe the decision may also reflect broader U.S. pressure to cut funding for international organizations.
The debate comes as NATO considers its missions abroad. The Alliance’s advisory mission in Iraq—launched in 2018 and expanded since 2021 at Baghdad’s request—could be ended as early as September under U.S. pressure, diplomats said. Washington is also preparing to withdraw about 2,500 troops from Iraq under a 2024 agreement with the Iraqi government, calling it part of Trump’s pledge to end “forever wars.”
Within NATO, that proposal has met resistance. Some allies agree the mission should eventually shrink but prefer a slower timeline with a reduced presence.
Washington has also signaled plans to scale back NATO’s Kosovo force (KFOR), currently about 4,500 troops. Security analysts warn a withdrawal could destabilize the Western Balkans and embolden nationalist factions. NATO responded that no decisions or timelines have been set and that missions are reviewed regularly and adjusted as conditions change.
Any decision to launch or end NATO operations requires approval from all 32 member states, meaning proposals typically involve prolonged negotiations and pressure campaigns among allies—not just from the United States.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has sharply reduced U.S. overseas commitments, withdrawn some troops from Europe, and shifted parts of NATO’s senior command structure to European leadership as part of a broader effort to refocus American foreign policy on what his administration calls core national-security priorities.
