US to reduce conventional forces in Europe as Pentagon demands NATO defense overhaul
Key Facts
- US conventional forces in Europe currently number approximately 85,000.
- Allies committed $35 billion in military aid to Ukraine for the current year.
- European NATO members previously agreed to a 3.5% GDP defense spending target by 2035.
- Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby attended the Brussels summit in place of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- The US will maintain its nuclear deterrent and Article 5 commitments while reducing conventional forces.
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby informed NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday that the United States will reduce its conventional military forces in Europe. Colby called for a "NATO 3.0" model based on "partnerships not dependencies," stating that European allies must assume "primary responsibility" for the continent's conventional defense. The policy chief attended the summit in place of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a move described by some diplomats as a demonstration of reduced US prioritization of the alliance.
While the US plans to transition its approximately 85,000 troops in Europe to a "more limited and focused fashion," Colby affirmed that Washington remains committed to NATO’s Article 5 and will continue providing an "extended nuclear deterrent." He noted that US strategic priorities are shifting toward the Americas and deterring China, requiring allies to prioritize "war-fighting effectiveness" over "bureaucratic and regulatory stasis."
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described the meeting as "pivotal" and asserted that the alliance remains "anchored" despite recent diplomatic tensions. During the summit, allies committed $35 billion in military aid to Ukraine for the current year through the Ukraine contact group. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested additional air defense systems, specifically "Patriots," to counter Russian ballistic strikes on Wednesday.
Historical Context
The meeting follows a period of diplomatic strain between Washington and European allies, including a dispute last month over a US proposal to acquire Greenland from Denmark. Additionally, the US has previously sent lower-level representatives to NATO summits, such as the absence of the Secretary of State in December. To address burden-sharing concerns, European NATO members agreed last summer to target core defense spending of 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
Perspective Analysis
Sources: New York Times · The Guardian · Al Jazeera · The Hill
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