"Prepare for the worst-case scenario"

The growing unpredictability of the White House’s security priorities is calling into question NATO’s fundamental assumptions about the defense of Europe, which has long relied on the belief that U.S. armed forces would be the dominant force on the side of allies in a potential war, writes Sky News.

Trump’s criticisms and uncertainty

The Joint Committee on National Security Strategy has called on London to "develop a plan to distance itself from the bilateral relationship with the United States, on which it is heavily dependent for nuclear and intelligence operations, as well as conventional defense."

It also advised that the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada should develop a plan "to transition toward a greater share of European leadership within NATO."

The committee emphasized that, while the government should continue cooperating with the United States in areas where it is practical, it must also have a clear plan.

"Preparing for the 'worst-case scenario' in which Europe can no longer rely on American support in a crisis, the government must work with European partners to invest in its capabilities and thereby compensate for this potential withdrawal," the report adds.

Dependence on U.S. military power

The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO’s top operational commander, is traditionally an American, while the U.S. military provides key elements for any conflict, such as satellite imagery, electronic warfare systems, and superior firepower.

This means that forces composed solely of European members would be significantly less capable.

However, the United Kingdom is even more exposed to any weakening of the transatlantic link due to its close security and defense partnership with the U.S., developed over decades under the so-called "special relationship."

The committee highlighted areas of particular importance, including the UK’s reliance on the United States for maintaining its Trident missiles, intelligence-sharing arrangements, delivery of F-35 fighter jets, and the new plan for building attack submarines.

The report warns that Trump could leverage any tools at his disposal against allies if they act in ways he dislikes.

Referring to Britain’s dependence on the U.S. across various defense and security domains, the report states: "There are proven areas of tension in UK-U.S. relations that could jeopardize the reliability of this dependence in the near future."