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World
German officials revealed that the US Pentagon advised its partners in Berlin to focus on NATO's eastern flank near Russia, while the US handles the Iran and Middle East file, amid high confidence in Washington's war plans that later waned.
German officials revealed that the US Department of War, the Pentagon, recommended to its partners in Berlin to focus on the eastern flank of NATO near Russia, while the United States manages the Iran and Middle East file, at a time when war planners in Washington showed great confidence in the course of operations, before later retreating as achieving decisive results faltered, according to what The Atlantic magazine reported.
According to the report, US officials advised their European counterparts in a decisive tone: "Mind your own business," and the Europeans expressed that the Americans were "very confident in the success of their mission in Iran."
The administration of US President Donald Trump, in the early days of the war on Iran, which was carried out in coordination with Israel, began implementing a foreign policy described as based on internal disagreements, without prior notification or consultation with its NATO allies regarding the military operation or its objectives.
As American expectations regarding the war declined, Washington began directing criticism at European allies for what it considered a failure to provide support, coinciding with changes within the US Department of War, including the reassignment of the NATO policy director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Mark Jones, who had held a pivotal position in managing relations with European allies for many years.
These developments coincided with the escalating repercussions of the war in the Middle East; as tension in the Strait of Hormuz caused energy prices to rise, while US weapons stockpiles were depleted, according to the magazine; which directly impacted Europe, which was already suffering from the repercussions of the war in Ukraine.
European countries also faced delays in US weapons shipments, along with economic pressures including inflation, rising energy prices, and the impact on various industrial sectors, while some countries, such as Slovenia, resorted to fuel rationing measures, followed by other European countries.
Given the limited European ability to influence the course of the crisis, European countries within alliances are exploring options to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but these steps remain contingent on a stable ceasefire, as threats continue between the conflicting parties.
Politically, tensions escalated between Washington and some European capitals, following statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in which he said that the Iranian leadership had "humiliated" the United States; prompting President Trump to strongly criticize him via social media platforms, describing some NATO positions as reflecting weakness.
This was accompanied by Washington's announcement of studying a reduction of its military presence in Germany; it was decided to withdraw about 5,000 soldiers out of approximately 40,000 over the next year, without a prior detailed review of the decision or a comprehensive assessment of its repercussions.
This comes within a broader trajectory that has seen a gradual reduction of the US military presence in Europe since the end of the Cold War, despite this presence expanding again following the war in Ukraine in 2022, bringing the number of US troops in Europe to about 80,000 soldiers, with the largest number stationed in Germany.
In contrast, European countries, led by Germany, have increased their defense spending; German military spending in 2025 reached about $114 billion, an increase of 24% over the previous year, along with plans to modernize military capabilities and enhance air defense systems and military technology.
According to experts, Berlin and its European partners seek to gradually develop their defense capabilities in coordination with Washington, while continuing to rely on the US nuclear umbrella, but European leaders stressed the need to strengthen the "European pillar" within NATO and reduce reliance on Washington in the face of changes in US policy.
In a related context, the Pentagon administration witnessed internal changes that sparked controversy within political and military circles, after the redistribution of responsibilities in the NATO file, amid criticism that some trends within the US administration have become less supportive of the traditional alliance with Europe.
The data indicates that relations between the United States and its European allies are going through a phase of tension and instability, in light of sudden decisions and divergent visions regarding the alliance's roles within international crises, especially in the Middle East.
Erem News
