By end of year, US will begin discussions on reducing its contingent in Europe

The US and its European NATO allies will begin negotiations on reducing the US military contingent in Europe by the end of this year.

According to Reuters, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated this on May 16.

Journalists asked him whether the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of withdrawing US troops from Europe.

"Nothing has been determined. <...> But as soon as we do, we are going to have these conversations in the structure of NATO," Whitaker said.

According to him, this will take place after the NATO summit, probably at the end of this year.

Whitaker added that at the summit of the alliance, the US will discuss with allies any changes in the number of troops in order to prevent gaps in security.

"It’s more than 30 years of U.S. desire (to reduce troops in Europe), President Trump just said, enough, this is going to happen and it’s going to happen now, this is going to be orderly, but we are not going to have any more patience for foot dragging in this situation... We just need to work through the practical consequences," Whitaker said.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in March of this year, the Financial Times reported, citing sources, that European NATO members had begun developing a plan to transfer the role of the United States among other members of the alliance.