The United States has informed its allies that it intends to cease its participation in planning upcoming military exercises in Europe, reports Expressen. This decision will affect several exercises in Sweden.
According to Expressen sources, the freezing of US planning does not affect exercises that have already been decided and will be conducted in 2025.
If the statement remains in force, it means that Sweden and other NATO countries will have to plan exercises without American participation or with the involvement of only small American units. Meanwhile, the presence of the USA in military exercises was a common occurrence in Sweden long before Sweden joined NATO.
Swedish journalists associate this decision with the US leadership's plans to reduce military spending in Europe and redirect funds to the Pacific region — to counter China.
Earlier, the publication NBC News, citing its sources, reported that the US leadership might abandon some commitments to NATO allies who spend insufficient funds on defense.