Europe Seeks to Reassure US over NATO Defense

Senior European diplomats will seek to reassure US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on Thursday that Europe is stepping up its defense efforts amid uncertainty over Washington’s review of US forces on the continent.

Colby is expected to brief ambassadors from NATO member states at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. The meeting comes as Washington conducts a six-month review of its troop deployments in Europe, where roughly 80,000 US troops are currently stationed.

Under President Donald Trump, the United States has pressed European NATO members to take primary responsibility for the continent’s defense. Washington has also sent members a questionnaire covering issues including defense spending, strategy, procurement, restrictions on US military access and support for US foreign policy priorities.

The process has raised concerns among European officials about what they see as Washington’s increasingly transactional approach to the transatlantic relationship. Diplomats also fear it could lead to competition among European countries for US attention and favorable terms on troop deployments.

Colby has said the review is intended to accelerate the Alliance’s evolution toward what he calls “NATO 3.0”. European officials regard him as an influential figure in shaping US strategy but note that he is not the ultimate decision-maker, leaving uncertainty over Washington’s eventual plans.

(Reuters, max)