This was hinted at in the 1980s when they started buying natural gas (France and Germany). It got brought up again in the 1990s. Under Bush, it was discussed again.
Other than keeping some US forces in the UK (after BREXIT) and maybe holding some deal with the Italians for the naval port...there is nothing left to really spend US funding on bases in Europe.
Hanson is correct...five members of NATO can cover the 2-percent requirement. The rest can’t. I don’t see a problem in removing troops and just having some massive exercise every two years to show US mobility functions as advertised.
It’s not can’t.
It’s won’t.
And the won’t is why the US should leave a vapor trail exiting NATO.