NATO's biggest special forces exercise in Europe takes place as US reduces support for allies

Some 3,000 elite troops from the US, the UK and 22 other nations are taking part in NATO's biggest special forces exercise in Europe even as Donald Trump reduces support to his allies.

The 10-day event, spanning 10 countries, is designed to test responses to attempts by an unnamed enemy - most likely Russia - to infiltrate NATO territory and launch sabotage, cyber and other attacks under the threshold of all-out war.

The significant US contribution to the exercise underlines the important role played by Washington in defending European territory and demonstrates how exposed the alliance would be if Mr Trump - as threatened - shrank troop numbers on the continent even further.

Sky News watched on Saturday evening as US service personnel pushed two rigid inflatable boats, stacked together and attached to a double parachute, out of the back of an American military transport aircraft off the coast of Greece.

The drop was followed by two waves of American and Greek special forces - 15 personnel in total - parachuting out of the same C-130 plane.

They descended to the water, detached themselves from their canopies, retrieved the boats, inflated them and sped to shore.

In the scenario, the troops, fitted with night vision goggles and body armour, were then tasked with stealthily accessing a naval site where around 10 suspected enemy forces, including a "high value target" had established a small base to conduct disruptive operations.

The job of the allies, using drones and other weapons systems, was to attack the base and kill or capture the target.

Speaking anonymously for security reasons, a Greek special forces soldier, who participated in the parachute jump, said this kind of exercise was "helpful" training to prepare troops for very real threats.

As for what it was like to work alongside his American counterparts, he said it was "just like working with any other people. I feel very close to them".

Asked, however, if he thought he would be able to conduct this kind of mission without the US, he said: "Yes of course."

The maritime simulation is among many different training serials that are playing out on land, sea and in the air, spanning the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea as part of the special forces exercise, which is called Trojan Footprint 2026.

It began on 11 May and takes place every two years.

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Soldiers from Britain's Ranger Regiment - classed as special operations forces, though not as elite as the Tier 1 SAS or SBS - are among those taking part, though they were not involved in the parachute jump in Greece.

Not all of the participating countries are members of NATO. Troops from partner countries, including Switzerland and Georgia, are also involved.

The special forces exercise is unfolding as concern among European allies grows about Mr Trump's commitment to defending Europe after repeatedly berating NATO.

The Pentagon has already cancelled a plan to send 4,000 soldiers to Poland on a temporary rotation that would have also included other countries such as the Baltic states and Romania.

A smaller deployment to Germany has also been scrapped. The moves come after the Trump administration said it would withdraw 5,000 US forces from Germany over the next 12 months.

(c) Sky News 2026: NATO's biggest special forces exercise in Europe takes place as US reduces support for allies