NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expects the United States to announce changes in its contributions to the alliance's force planning.
"What exactly will be the announcement, you have to wait until later. I'm not allowed to disclose that," Rutte told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday.
NATO's Force Model is the framework though which allies make troops available for peacetime operations, missions and other activities. Additionally, the alliance's members designate a larger pool of available forces that can be deployed in a crisis or conflict if needed.
Rutte however stressed that the announcement would not be a surprise to NATO. The debate on the topic started a year ago, Rutte said, and led to increased defence expenditure in Europe to reduce over-reliance on the US.
NATO foreign ministers are set to meet in Helsingborg, Sweden on Friday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the meeting to "discuss the need for increased defence investment and greater burden sharing in the Alliance," the US State Department said.
Diplomats emphasized that the adjustments did not automatically mean the US would withdraw further troops from Europe.
US General and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexus Grynkewich stated on Tuesday that no further announcements beyond the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops announced by US President Donald Trump were to be expected in the short term.
He added that further redeployments should be anticipated in the long term, as Europe continues to expand its capabilities and assume greater responsibility for the continent’s conventional defence.
