Europe Is Accelerating a NATO Fallback Plan in Case Trump Pulls Out -- WSJ

Dow Jones04-15 08:59

A fallback plan to ensure Europe can defend itself using NATO's existing military structures if the U.S. departs is gaining traction after getting buy-in from Germany, a long-term opponent of a go-it-alone approach.

The officials working on the plans, which some officials are referring to as "European NATO," are seeking to get more Europeans into the alliance's command-and-control roles and supplement U.S. military assets with their own.

The plans-advancing informally through side discussions and over dinner meetings in and around the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-aren't intended to rival the current alliance, participants said. European officials are aiming to preserve deterrence against Russia, operational continuity and nuclear credibility even if Washington withdraws forces from Europe or refuses to come to its defense, as President Trump has threatened.

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April 14, 2026 20:59 ET (00:59 GMT)

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