European allies have increased pledges for NATO crisis forces, Rutte says


NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds a press conference ahead of a Defence Ministers meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 17, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman

BRUSSELS, ⁠June 17 (Reuters) - European ⁠allies have stepped up ‌to contribute more forces available to NATO ​in a crisis, ⁠after the ⁠U.S. reduced its contribution, ⁠NATO ‌Secretary General Mark ⁠Rutte said on Wednesday.

The ​U.S. ‌told allies last month ⁠that ​it has decided to shrink ⁠the pool of U.S. ​military capabilities committed to NATO in ⁠a crisis, raising questions about how and when European ​countries will ⁠fill the gaps.

(Reporting ​by Lili ‌Bayer and Sabine ​Siebold, editing by Bart Meijer)

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