"As NATO leaders gather in Ankara next week, there is much to celebrate. Ukraine is gaining the upper hand on the battlefield against Russia. European defense spending is way up. Many European allies are stepping forward to carry more of the security burden on the continent. These are major, positive developments.
Despite this good news, transatlantic ties have been strained in the past year. That could explain the calls for unity in pre-summit statements from many leaders, reflecting in part the need for more of it. Indeed, many European allies are understandably upset about the policy President Donald Trump pursued regarding Greenland and nervous that America may dangerously reduce its commitment to the alliance and its defense.
Understanding the stakes, one decision that policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic will be watching is where Washington will come down on U.S. troop posture in Europe. The Trump administration has already taken troubling steps, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on June 18 a "review" of America's military force posture in Europe, which could lead to further reductions of American combat power on the continent.
Excessive or premature American military withdrawals from the continent will send a dangerous message to Putin regarding America's political will and reduce the American combat power necessary to deter costly additional Russian aggression…"
link
Armand
ponders nirvana.