**NATO's Secret Plan B: Europe Readies for a U.S. Exit**

European leaders are quietly preparing a backup structure for NATO. This effort aims to protect the alliance if the United States significantly reduces its support. The planning accelerated after key political meetings earlier this year. According to sources, a major shift in Germany's position made this new consensus possible. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz convinced his party to support a stronger, more self-reliant European defense. His decision followed talks with Donald Trump. Merz concluded that the former U.S. president was prepared to abandon Ukraine and had confused the victim with the aggressor in the war with Russia. This change in Germany allowed a broader coalition of European nations to agree on the contingency plans. The work focuses on practical coordination, not replacing NATO. The goal is to ensure European security can continue without full American leadership if necessary. Officials stress that a strong NATO with U.S. involvement remains the priority. The backup framework is described as an insurance policy for an uncertain political future.