Europe Plans Backup in Case U.S. Withdraws from NATO

NATO DOK ILLUSTRATION

European countries are drawing up contingency plans to survive if the United States withdraws from NATO membership, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing several sources.

Plans designed to ensure Europe's ability to defend itself independently of using the military structures already in NATO are reported to be gaining momentum after receiving support from Germany, its old rival.

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik/RIA Novosti, Wednesday, April 15, the plan is not intended to rival the North Atlantic Alliance, but to ensure European defense if the United States withdraws its troops or refuses to provide assistance.

According to the source of the report, ideally, the US would remain in NATO, but most of the regional defense responsibilities would be shifted to European countries.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the plan has been in the works since 2025 and has been accelerated when US President Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland.

The need for such an initiative was deemed more urgent after Europe refused to help the US in its operations against Iran.

Previously, Germany supported the US's role as the main guarantor of European security. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz now doubts the US's ability as an ally under the Trump administration or in the future.

Berlin's change of attitude is encouraging stronger support from other European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Poland, the Nordic countries, as well as Canada. These countries are calling for a kind of "voluntary coalition" in NATO.

Supporters of the plan also believe that there is a need for conscription and an acceleration of European defense production in sectors that are still lagging behind the US, such as anti-submarine warfare, space and intelligence capabilities, in-flight refueling, and air mobility.

On April 1, Trump claimed to be seriously considering withdrawing the United States from NATO after his allies refused to join the war against Iran.

Trump also said he no longer viewed Europe as a reliable defense partner after European countries refused to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz.