The Trump administration plans to notify NATO members this week that it would cut the military capabilities the U.S. would have to help the alliance’s European nations in a severe crisis, three sources familiar with the situation said.

Alliance members define a pool of forces that can be activated in case of a conflict or any other significant crisis, such as a military attack on a NATO member, under a scheme called the NATO Force Model.

The makeup of the wartime forces is a highly held secret, but the Pentagon has opted to dramatically slash its commitment, the individuals said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the preparations honestly.

US President Donald Trump has indicated he wants European nations to take the lead in ensuring the continent’s security from the US. The message to allies this week is a clear example of policy being put into action.

Details were murky, including how soon the Pentagon wants to turn over crisis-mode tasks to European partners. But the sources said the Pentagon plans to disclose its desire to scale back its pledge during a meeting Friday in Brussels of defense policy chiefs.

Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy head, has declared publicly that the U.S. will keep its nuclear umbrella for NATO members as European allies take the lead on conventional troops.

Sources say the US will likely be represented by Alex Velez-Green, a top adviser to Colby. “Adjusting the NATO Force Model is a top priority for Colby’s team as they prepare for the next NATO leaders’ summit, to be held in Turkey in July, one of the sources said.

A NATO official referred requests for comment to the United States. The Pentagon did not immediately answer when asked for its response.

Red Alliance

For the first time ever, the NATO alliance is under extraordinary pressure, with some European nations fearing Washington could walk away entirely. One big change to the forces the US will have available in time of war will only compound such fears.

In recent weeks the Trump administration has announced intentions to withdraw around 5,000 U.S. soldiers from Europe, including a decision to cancel the deployment of an Army brigade to Poland — a surprise move that has been condemned by U.S. politicians.

Aides on Capitol Hill knew of and worried about Pentagon intentions to scale back its commitments under the NATO Force Model, one of the sources and another person familiar with the topic said.

But a senior NATO diplomat said they still believed there is an understanding that the United States would come to Europe’s help if it ​was in crisis.

Trump and many of his associates have criticized European partners for not spending enough on their militaries, and relying on the US for traditional defense. They note out the US still has tens of thousands of troops in Europe.

The president’s wish to seize control of Greenland, a Danish foreign region, has further added to the tensions between the US and Europe, as has a long-running disagreement between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has attacked Trump’s war with Iran.

European partners generally say they are quickly beefing up their military capabilities, but this cannot be done overnight.