NATO is considering a major overhaul of its military planning that would scale back overseas operations and redirect resources toward confronting Russia, according to Politico.

The proposed changes would affect military capability requirements for all 32 NATO member states. Under the current framework, allies are expected to maintain enough forces to fight a large-scale war in Europe while simultaneously conducting several smaller crisis-management missions. The new approach would allow countries to prepare their forces for either scenario rather than both at once.

Politico described the proposal as NATO’s most significant military planning review in at least two decades. The shift would prioritize preparations for a potential confrontation with Russia over maintaining additional forces for overseas missions in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the publication, the initiative has the backing of the United States, Northern European countries and NATO members on the alliance’s eastern flank. Southern European allies, however, want overseas operations to remain an important part of NATO’s activities.

Washington is pushing to reduce the alliance’s involvement in missions beyond NATO territory, including its advisory operation in Iraq. US officials are also urging European partners to concentrate their military resources on defending their own countries.

The revised political guidelines for NATO’s military planning are expected to be agreed upon by February 2027. Final requirements for allied troop numbers and military equipment are scheduled to be established by 2029.