Nato allies press US for clarity on troop cuts in Europe

{"text":[[{"start":9.25,"text":"The US should co-ordinate troop reductions in Europe more closely with its Nato allies to avoid weakening the alliance’s deterrence against Russia, Estonia has urged, ahead of a meeting during which Europeans will press Marco Rubio for a clear timeline."}],[{"start":25.8,"text":"Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna told the FT that a string of ad hoc announcements cutting US deployments or rotations in Germany and Poland showed Europe needed to do more for its own defence. But he said “we need to know in more co-ordinated ways what are the plans”."}],[{"start":43.55,"text":"European capitals are set to demand clarity from Rubio at a Nato foreign ministers’ meeting in Helsingborg beginning on Thursday, diplomats said."}],[{"start":52.199999999999996,"text":"Nato allies are irritated by repeated delays to a “defence posture review” from the Trump administration that would make clear which aspects of the US military presence on the continent would be withdrawn and when. The surprise decisions regarding Germany and Poland have added to a sense of urgency, the diplomats said."}],[{"start":70.75,"text":"The Pentagon last week cancelled a planned deployment of 4,000 US troops to Poland on a temporary rotation. The move came two weeks after Washington said it would be cutting 5,000 troops from Germany. A Pentagon official also said the US would drop a plan to send a battalion equipped with ground-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany. "}],[{"start":91.25,"text":"The cancellation of the long-range strike force and other troop changes have alarmed European officials and experts who fear it could leave Nato with capability gaps. European militaries have no ground-launched missiles with a range similar to the 1,600km Tomahawk, although France and the UK have submarine-launched cruise missiles."}],[{"start":112.15,"text":"Tsahkna said Estonia had previously “got the message” that US troop commitments to Poland and the Baltic states would remain. It was now awaiting clarification of the announced changes through military-to-military contacts."}],[{"start":125.80000000000001,"text":"“We have no details,” he said, adding that “Poland is part of our defence line as well”."}],[{"start":130.8,"text":"“This is much more than a question about each member state, it’s a common Nato deterrence and posture question.”"}],[{"start":137.25,"text":"European officials are relying on General Alexus Grynkewich, Nato’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, to act as a broker with the Pentagon in terms of US force commitments to Europe."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":147,"text":"Nato diplomats said Washington could reveal its plans at various meetings, including the alliance’s annual summit in July. But there was no guarantee, they added."}],[{"start":156.9,"text":"“In itself the [troop reduction] numbers are not hugely worrying,” said one senior Nato diplomat, adding that America retains a “robust presence” and “a very strong deterrence” in Europe."}],[{"start":168.75,"text":"“What is problematic for us is that it is so unpredictable and comes as a surprise, and in the context of Germany it is presented as a punishment,” the senior Nato diplomat added. “In Helsingborg many Europeans will say that [to the Americans] — ‘please, no surprises. And please, no gaps in capabilities.’”"}],[{"start":189.3,"text":"Nato capitals say they are committed to a long-term burden shifting to European militaries of conventional defence capabilities currently provided by the US, such as air and missile defence systems, long-range missiles and intelligence-gathering space satellites, but need a plan of what to prioritise and at what scale."}],[{"start":207.35000000000002,"text":"“This is exactly what we need,” Tsahkna said. “US troops in Europe are a deterrence to Russia. It’s clear. But we are realistic people in Estonia and we don’t take any risks. So if there is a plan like this [for reductions], then we need to have a roadmap.”"}],[{"start":222.3,"text":"Estonia is also awaiting more information from Washington about deliveries of US weapons systems, including Himars precision-guided missiles, that have been delayed because of depletion of American arms stockpiles during the Iran war."}],[{"start":235.65,"text":"“We do hope that the clarity is coming,” Tsahkna said, adding that Tallinn could turn to alternative suppliers if needed. "}],[{"start":243.4,"text":"Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s defence minister, told the Lennart Meri conference in Tallinn this weekend that Nato was “very quickly approaching a perfect storm” that could tempt Moscow to test Nato unity. Pevkur referred to a combination of UK political turmoil, the prospect of a far-right victory in France’s presidential election and changes to the US force posture in Europe."}],[{"start":272.5,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779262592_5001.mp3"}