NATO member urges alliance to prepare 'clear roadmap' for any US troop pullout

The Finnish Defence Minister has warned NATO must be prepared for the eventuality (Image: Getty)

European NATO countries should develop a "clear road map" to deal with the implications of a US troop withdrawal, according to the Finnish Defence Minister.

Antti Häkkänen made the claims as doubts continue to persist over the US administration’s reliability to continue to underwrite the alliance that has kept Europe safe for nearly 80 years. He told Politico: "We need to have some sort of joint plan with Americans about a roadmap if the Americans are shifting the balance in the Pacific area in conventional defence capabilities." Mr Häkkänen raised concerns about a potential vulnerability timeframe between any US withdrawal and NATO growing to a point where it is able to cover the capability shortfall. European leaders have committed to "stepping up" following criticism from Donald Trump and key figures within his government on an over-reliance on the United States.

Currently, no country spends 5% of GDP on defence, despite the United States' insistence (Image: NATO Statistics)

Mr Häkkänen’s comments echo those of his German counterpart Boris Pistorius who discussed with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth the need for the US to help in developing a framework that would ensure that NATO is not left short in the event of America shifting focus to the Indo-Pacific.

Donald Trump has previously expressed a desire to see NATO countries commit 5% of GDP towards defence.

Currently, no country, including the United States, spends 5% of GDP on defence. According to NATO statistics, Poland spends the biggest proportion of its GDP on defence with 4.1%, followed by Estonia and the US.

NATO head Mark Rutte has moved to ease fears over a potential refocus of American interests, telling members that any pivot by Washington towards Asia would be done in a "very coordinated manner."

Mr Häkkänen is sympathetic to the needs of the US to counter potential aggression by fellow superpower China, particularly in regards to Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Häkkänen recently met his US counterpart Pete Hegseth (Image: Getty)

He said: "The message I get from the Americans, and from the Pentagon side, is that we need to understand their pressure from China’s military buildup in the Indo-Pacific area."

But Mr Häkkänen remains conscious of the threat posed by any backward steps by the United States on European security.

He added: "Europe is too weak without US capabilities. It must be complemented with European capabilities.”

Finland shares a 1,340km border with Russia and was previously invaded by the Soviet Union during World War 2.

It currently spends 2.41% of GDP on defence and has a whole society defence preparedness system in place, including one million reservists at its disposal.

Its border with Russia saw it join NATO, along with Sweden following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.