US cuts to NATO crisis forces effective immediately, Rutte says

BRUSSELS: The reduction of US contributions to NATO’s crisis forces has taken effect immediately, NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Thursday, adding other allies were stepping up to fill the gaps left by the US move.

“The question yesterday came up: Is this immediate or not? It is immediate,” Rutte told reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.

NATO chief says US troop withdrawals from Europe won’t hurt defences

“However, why I’m a little bit reluctant to say this is because it is a planning tool. So what would happen in reality? If war would break out all allies, including the US, will max out what they can do to make sure we can fight the war.”