Allies fear Trump will target NATO in case of midterm loss

Allies fear President Trump could move thousands more U.S. troops out of Europe or cut NATO funding if Republicans lose the midterm elections, according to diplomats who say he may seek to cement his legacy with a decisive foreign policy shift. The concern centers on the possibility that an unbound president, facing no further electoral constraint, could accelerate a drawdown of the American military footprint on the continent or reduce financial contributions to the alliance. European officials view such moves as a potential threat to NATO's deterrence posture, particularly given existing worries about U.S. commitment to collective defense. The stakes are high because troop reductions or funding cuts could weaken the alliance's eastern flank at a time of heightened tension with Russia. Diplomats and alliance officials are watching for signals in Trump's post-midterm rhetoric and any announcements on force levels or burden-sharing demands, which would indicate whether the fears materialize into concrete policy action.