The United States will move to end support for a program that helped prepare armies in Eastern Europe to stave off a potential offensive from Russia, the White House said Thursday, as President Trump continues overhauling Washington’s role within NATO and pushing Europe to bolster its defenses and support for Ukraine.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of not being authorized to speak publicly, confirmed the move, which was reported earlier by The Financial Times on Thursday, and is part of phasing out longstanding security assistance programs that provide military support to European nations. The official said the measure aligns with Mr. Trump’s goals of re-evaluating foreign aid and having Europe take more responsibility for its military capabilities.
The official said the move stemmed from an executive order Mr. Trump signed on the first day of his presidency, which stated that “no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.”
The official also said that the measure, which was reportedly communicated by leaders at the Pentagon in recent weeks, had been coordinated with the affected European nations.
Ending the longstanding program is expected to impact hundreds of millions of dollars that have gone toward countries that border Russia.
The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Trump has long held that European nations have over-relied on the United States for its military capabilities, and has expressed skepticism about security alliances like NATO. In his second term, he has called on European nations to increase their share of military spending and take a larger role in helping Ukraine fight Russia’s invasion.
But he has warmed to NATO after European leaders have largely embraced his position that they need to do more to protect their nations, and European leaders paid the United States for weaponry to help Ukraine fight its war with Russia.