Pentagon wants Europe to take responsibility for its conventional defence and support for Ukraine

Elbridge Colby, US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, has said that the United States expects Europe to take primary responsibility for its own conventional defence and a leading role in supporting Ukraine.

Source: Colby at NATO headquarters in Brussels on 27 August, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "We are actually having a kind of down-to-business conversation about how we go forward together in a world in which Europe, which is obviously a very wealthy continent, can and is taking primary responsibility for its own conventional defence, with, obviously, the United States remaining committed to NATO, remaining linked to this alliance of course, and also Europe taking the lead in support to Ukraine."

Details: Colby said he wants to hear NATO allies' views on these positions.

He confirmed that the US had indeed sent a questionnaire to its European allies asking them to provide their assessments and plans regarding the future assumption of responsibility for Europe's conventional defence.

"We wanted allies to hear from them directly in writing, in the spirit of NATO 3.0 … which is a European-led conventional defence, but understanding how we manage across time, the extraordinary investments by governments like Poland, Germany, the Netherlands. And we hope others will come along," Colby said.

"Obviously, Europe remaining a critical interest of the United States even as we prioritise the Western Hemisphere," he stressed again.

The Pentagon official has also said that on the morning of 27 August in Brussels, he had "already had a series of really great meetings this morning with European counterparts". On 26 August, he received a briefing from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), while on 25 August, he visited US European Command together with General Alexus Grynkewich.

Background:

• Colby is visiting NATO headquarters in Brussels on 27 August.
• The US Department of Defense is currently reviewing its military presence in Europe, which could pave the way for a reduction in the number of US troops on the continent.

• The Pentagon's review of the deployment of US troops in Europe, which is expected to be completed by 6 November, will identify at least four possible courses of action for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

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