The Financial Times revealed that European allies in NATO have begun responding to an American survey asking them to disclose the extent of their support for President Donald Trump's foreign policy.
This comes amid concerns that their responses could be used as a pretext for punishing them, especially in the context of Washington's review of its military presence in Europe, which could lead to significant reductions in US troops and equipment on the continent.
Bloomberg reported in mid-August that the US administration had sent a questionnaire to its NATO allies, asking whether they publicly supported Trump’s foreign policies and whether they purchased weapons from US companies, as part of a comprehensive review of the US military presence in Europe, which is expected to conclude by next December.
The newspaper noted that some allies are concerned that their responses, which are considered public information known to Washington, could be used against them in the context of the review, while Bloomberg revealed that some countries intend to provide general responses to avoid answering the most sensitive questions, such as their willingness to publicly support US foreign policies, or their stance on the "Made in Europe" policy in the defense industries.
These developments come at a time when European allies fear that the Pentagon's review, scheduled to end at the end of the year, will lead to a significant reduction in US troops and military equipment on the continent, further straining relations between Washington and its traditional allies under Trump's hardline policy toward Europe.
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