The USA presented NATO with a list of weapons they plan to reduce in Europe, reports Die Welt citing sources, calling it a "serious challenge" for the EU.
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The number of old KC-135 tanker aircraft will decrease from 71 to 63, and all eight modern KC-46 tanker aircraft will be taken away.
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Fighters: out of 99 F-16 fighters, 63 will remain, and out of 54 F-15E, 36 will remain.
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Drones: The USA is excluding all long-range drones from NATO plans, reducing the number of armed MQ-9 drones by almost half.
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Naval forces: one of the two aircraft carrier strike groups will be decommissioned, as well as nearly half of the cruiser and destroyer formations. Submarine capabilities for launching cruise missiles are also excluded from plans. The number of 26 Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft will be reduced to 15.
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Bombers: out of two bomber formations, one will be decommissioned.
"These statements indicate that the USA is focusing its foreign policy and security efforts on the Pacific region," comments Die Welt.
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