While the U.S. has taken part in previous iterations of the military exercise, this year's U.S. footprint was smaller as allied nations are pressed by the Trump administration to put more into European defense.

The autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can also be used for mine detection and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the companies say. Many NATO nations are heavily investing in ASW and the alliance held drills focused on countering submarines in the Baltic Sea this month.

The U.S. NATO envoy supports a German general taking command of all allied forces, a job that has been held by an American officer.

Another senior Pentagon official visited the Powidz Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite recently, underscoring its critical role in

"It’s very easy to draw the wrong conclusions from the war in Ukraine," Drummond said, referring to slow progress on the front line, adding that a future conflict with a reconstituted Russian armed forces would be "fast paced" with a greater use of air power in the opening weeks.

Some of America's closest European allies say they're already in a gray zone between peace and war with Russia.

The US administration would like Germany to take command of NATO forces in Europe. U.S. Ambassador to the Alliance Matthew Whitaker said this during the Berlin Security Conference on November 18, he was quoted by The Times. He noted that this is Washington's long-term ambition amid Europe taking greater responsibility for its defense.

As Russia strikes Europe again, when will this hybrid war with Nato turn physical? - ANALYSIS: As Russia provokes Europe with drones, jets, and strikes on tankers, and is the prime suspect in the bombing of a Polish train,

Business Insider observed US, Polish, and Romanian forces learning to use the Merops system, which has been combat-proven in Ukraine.

Leaders and soldiers from the 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade (52d ADA BDE) and the 10th Army Air and Missile

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine risks losing its key partner after the US threatened to cut off support unless Kyiv agrees to a peace deal that would force it to cede territory to Russia, cap the size of its military and pledge never to join NATO.