Europe drafts NATO fallback plan amid fears of US withdrawal
European officials are developing a contingency plan to ensure NATO can defend itself without the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported. The proposal, sometimes called “European NATO,” has gained momentum after Germany signalled its backing under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, marking a shift from Berlin’s long‑held opposition to greater European defence autonomy.
Europe is preparing a fallback plan to maintain NATO’s defensive capability if the United States steps back from its security commitments, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The idea, sometimes called “European NATO,” has gained momentum after Germany, long opposed to a more independent approach, signalled its backing under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Officials involved want to place more Europeans in key command roles within the alliance and gradually replace US military capabilities with European resources.
Reinforcing the Alliance
The discussions, taking place informally around NATO meetings and private gatherings, are not intended to rival the current alliance but to reinforce it, the report said. European officials aim to preserve deterrence against Russia, operational continuity and nuclear credibility even if Washington withdraws forces from Europe or refuses to come to its defence. The plans were first conceived last year but gained urgency after President Trump floated the idea of taking Greenland from Denmark and amid tensions over Europe’s reluctance to support US military actions in Iran.
Germany’s Strategic Shift
A key driver of the shift is Germany’s changing stance. For years, Berlin resisted French proposals for greater European defence autonomy, relying instead on US security guarantees. However, under Merz, Germany is reconsidering this position due to doubts about America’s long‑term reliability as an ally. Türkiye, a key NATO member with the alliance’s second‑largest army, has consistently advocated for burden‑sharing and strategic autonomy within the alliance, and Ankara is closely monitoring these developments.
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