Europe plans NATO leadership, but Eastern countries prefer US

European countries are reportedly working on a plan to replace the United States' role in NATO. This plan could take 5 to 10 years to implement. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Nordic nations want to discuss this proposal at the NATO Summit in June. However, some countries, like Poland, the Baltic States, and Romania, are hesitant and prefer to stay under U.S. protection. Poland's recent interest in strengthening ties with France might change if the liberal parties win the upcoming presidential election. This could affect their relationship with the U.S. right now, Poland seems to be trying to balance its alliances. The Baltic nations remain very pro-American and would only shift focus to Europe if the U.S. pulls back its military presence. Romania has rejected France's offer to extend its nuclear protection, showing it trusts the U.S. more in potential conflicts with Russia. If Poland and these Eastern European countries maintain their views, tensions within NATO could increase. France and Germany want to lead post-war Europe but may face challenges from U.S. influence in Eastern Europe. This shift could create a divide where the eastern NATO countries align more closely with the U.S., while Western Europe acts more independently. The future of NATO and U.S. influence in Europe depends on several factors. These include how Central and Eastern European countries view the threat from Russia, the reliability of the U.S. as a partner, and whether the U.S. decides to reduce its role in Europe. If these conditions remain stable, Western Europe may strengthen its military independence while still relying on the U.S. for support in a potential conflict. Overall, the potential changes in NATO's structure heavily hinge on the upcoming Polish election, which could significantly impact Europe’s security framework amidst ongoing tensions with Russia.