NATO allies move to replace US force cuts ahead of July summit
What's new: US commitments to NATO reportedly drop across jets, drones, tankers, ships and bombers as Europe and Canada add assets.
NATO members have increased contributions to the alliance's crisis-response forces to cover many gaps left by U.S. cuts, Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in Brussels ahead of a defense ministers' meeting. The reductions, disclosed to allies last month, affect a broad range of capabilities tied to NATO defense plans. Figures provided to Reuters by a military source showed U.S. fighter commitments falling by a third to 99 F-15 and F-15E jets, while MQ-4 and MQ-9 drone numbers were halved to 12. Refueling aircraft drop to 63 from 79, and U.S. allocations of strategic bombers and aircraft carriers fall to one each from two. The shifts come as leaders prepare for a NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.