The Pentagon’s policy chief told Nato members yesterday that the alliance must adapt and that he wants to hear from allies as part of a review of US forces in Europe he said was meant to enable a more European-led defence of the continent.
Washington announced a six-month review of US troop deployments in Europe in June and in recent weeks sent Nato members a questionnaire covering issues ranging from defence spending to strategy, procurement and support for US foreign policy priorities.
The review will create at least four sets of options for Defence 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 US 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,” US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby told ambassadors representing Nato countries during a meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels, 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 US.
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”.
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