The Pentagon’s policy chief tells NATO ambassadors that the alliance must adapt and that the United States wants a more European-led approach to defending the continent. Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, says he is seeking input from NATO members as part of a review affecting U.S. posture in Europe.
According to reporting, Washington announced a six-month review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe in June. NATO members receive a questionnaire in recent weeks covering topics such as defense spending, strategy, procurement, and support for U.S. foreign policy priorities. The outlets describe Colby’s remarks as part of the process to reassess how NATO members share responsibility, rather than a final decision on any specific force changes.
While the articles focus on different aspects—some emphasize the call for NATO to change and the U.S. objective for European leadership—the underlying message across sources is consistent: the U.S. is consulting allies during an ongoing review of its European deployments and related policy assumptions.
