Germany and other European NATO members are significantly increasing defence expenditure and military responsibilities as the United States signals a gradual withdrawal from its dominant role in the alliance. The Pentagon has announced the removal of 5,000 troops from Germany and confirmed it will not station long-range missiles, including Tomahawks, there as originally planned — meaning Berlin will likely need to procure those systems independently. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte (the former Dutch prime minister who now leads the 32-member alliance) has framed the shift as a strengthening of the bloc, noting that Europe's share of NATO military capabilities is rising sharply, with the US contribution expected to fall below one-third by 2035.