- Senior US Defense Official to Address NATO Ambassadors in Brussels
BRUSSELS: A senior US defense official will brief NATO allies on Thursday on Washington’s ongoing review of its military presence in Europe, as concerns grow among European governments over a possible reduction in US forces on the continent.
US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby is scheduled to meet ambassadors from NATO’s 32 member states at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.
A NATO official confirmed on Wednesday that the United States was consulting its allies as part of its broader force posture review.
Six-Month Review Focuses on European Defense Responsibilities
Washington launched the six-month review in July as the administration pushes European allies to assume greater responsibility for the conventional defense of their continent.
The review was announced by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid growing tensions between Washington and European governments over their response to the war with Iran, including restrictions imposed on US forces using European military bases at the outset of the conflict.
European diplomats said Washington is also assessing individual countries’ defense spending and their policies governing access to bases for US military operations.
Europe Seeks a Unified Response
Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, European officials are seeking to present a coordinated message on their efforts to strengthen the continent’s defense capabilities.
“We need to send a united European message on Thursday to show how we are stepping up together as a whole,” one European diplomat said, emphasizing that the discussion should not become a competition among individual countries.
Washington Signals Shift in Military Priorities
US President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly urged European allies to increase defense spending, while signaling that Washington wants to devote greater attention and resources to other strategic challenges, particularly China.
The Pentagon has already informed NATO allies that it is reducing the number of military assets it makes available for the alliance’s defense planning.
In May, Washington also announced plans to withdraw about 5,000 US troops from Germany. Trump later said the United States would deploy a similar number of troops to neighboring Poland, potentially offsetting the reduction in the region.
European Allies Accelerate Defense Spending
European NATO members have been significantly increasing military expenditure amid growing security concerns.
In 2025, alliance members agreed to meet Trump’s demand to allocate five percent of gross domestic product to security-related spending by 2035, reflecting a broader push for Europe to strengthen its own defense capabilities and reduce its reliance on the United States.
BY: The Times Union
