Ekaterina Girnyk11:52, 09.03.25

This does not apply to the exercises that have been decided to be held in 2025.

The United States has notified its NATO allies of its intention to stop participating in planning future military exercises in Europe, the Swedish publication Expressen reported , citing its sources.

At the same time, according to Expressen sources, the American ban does not apply to the exercises that have been decided to be held in 2025.

“We are talking about exercises that are currently on the ‘drawing board’, that is, a little further away,” says one of the sources.

If this statement remains in force, Sweden and other NATO countries will be forced to plan exercises without American participation or with the participation of only small American units, the publication notes.

 “If you don’t practice, your chances of being effective if you have to fight together are reduced,” says former Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi.

He noted that joint exercises serve two purposes.

“Partly you train in the appropriate terrain, usually where there is snow, cold, damp and difficult conditions. Partly you get to know each other, which is equally important. It is not about uniform methods, but about mutual understanding. If you do not practice, your chances of being effective in a joint fight are reduced,” he emphasized.

US Leaves NATO

Earlier, the media reported that Donald Trump was considering the idea of ​​changing the format of US participation in the Alliance , including abandoning the mandatory defense of allies in the event of an attack on them.

Thus, the United States may refuse to defend a NATO partner country if it does not fully meet its defense spending obligations. 

Trump is also considering a policy change in which the US might decide to prioritize military exercises with NATO members that spend a certain percentage of their GDP on defense.

(C)UNIAN 2025