The Pentagon’s policy chief told NATO members on Thursday that the alliance must adapt and that he wants to hear from allies as part of a review of U.S. forces in Europe he said was meant to enable a more European-led defence of the continent.
– Washington announced a six-month review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe in June and in recent weeks sent NATO members a questionnaire covering issues ranging from defense spending to strategy, procurement and support for U.S. foreign policy priorities.
– The review will create at least four sets of options for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by November 6, well ahead of a December deadline for its completion, according to a document seen by Reuters.
– The process has fueled questions among European officials about whether the U.S. administration is seeking to use the review as a real consultation, symbolic gesture or negotiating tactic.
– “We believe that in order to survive and indeed thrive, NATO must change,” U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby told ambassadors representing NATO countries during a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, according to prepared remarks published by the Pentagon.
– “This is not a narrow review about places and bases alone, although those are of course important. Rather, it is a look at our strategic posture here in the broader sense,” he said, adding that “it will encourage, enable, and impel a transition to a more durable and powerful European-led conventional defense of the continent”.
– Colby also praised progress within the alliance and said that Europe remains a critical area for the U.S.
– “Consultations and engagement are a vital part of this review,” he said. “We want to hear from you”.
– Diplomats described the discussion with the Pentagon policy chief as positive but preliminary.
– The meeting “went pretty well and showed allied efforts and contributions to the burden shifting are on the way,” said a NATO diplomat.
– A European diplomat described the discussion as “mainly sounding out” and said “the overall message from Allies was quite clear: Europe is stepping up and unity is key. This was well understood, I believe”.