US cancels plans for new military exercises in Europe, media reports
Photo: US abandons plans for new military exercises in Europe (Getty Images)
The US has informed its allies of its intention to cease participation in the planning of upcoming military exercises in Europe. Specifically, this decision will affect several exercises in Sweden, Expressen informs.
"There is little information, but the announcement concerns exercises where the United States plays a crucial role in the overall activities of the exercises in Europe and, consequently, in the defense of the European continent," the publication writes.
According to sources from Expressen, the US freeze on planning does not apply to exercises that have been scheduled for 2025.
"It concerns exercises that are currently 'on the drawing board,' meaning they are a bit further down the line," one of Expressen's sources says.
If the US decision remains in effect, it will mean, as journalists point out, that Sweden and other NATO countries will have to plan exercises without US participation or with only small American units involved.
Additionally, the US side aims to reduce military spending in Europe and relocate it elsewhere. President Donald Trump has stated that he wants to prioritize the Indo-Pacific region, which primarily targets China.
What is known about the joint Sweden-US exercises
The US has frequently conducted exercises with Sweden in the past. For example, in March last year, thousands of Swedish soldiers, together with NATO units, including American ones, took part in drills in the North Sea. The exercises were led by Norway and were named Nordic Response 2024.
Moreover, last fall, the Archipelago Endeavour lasted two and a half weeks, where amphibious units from Sweden and the US practiced combat operations in the Stockholm archipelago.
