Pentagon: Europe should take main responsibility for its own defense and support for Ukraine

US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said on Thursday, August 27, at NATO headquarters in Brussels that the United States wants Europe to take on primary responsibility for its own conventional defense, as well as a leading role in supporting Ukraine.

He said substantive discussions are underway on how to move forward together in a world where wealthy Europe is already beginning to take on a greater share of responsibility for its own defense. Colby stressed that the US remains within NATO and committed to the alliance, while Europe should simultaneously assume the leading role in backing Ukraine.

Questionnaire for allies

The deputy defense secretary said he wants to hear the views of NATO allies on this approach. He confirmed that the US has sent European allies a questionnaire asking them to lay out their assessments and plans for gradually taking over conventional defense of Europe. Colby explained that the goal was to hear directly, in writing, allied positions in the spirit of what he called "NATO 3.0," while also understanding how large investments planned by countries such as Poland, Germany and the Netherlands would be managed over time.

He reiterated that Europe remains a critically important interest for the United States, even as Washington prioritizes the Western Hemisphere.

Colby also said that on the morning of August 27 in Brussels he had already held several meetings with European counterparts, that the previous day he had received a briefing from NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), and that on August 25 he visited US European Command together with General Alexus Grynkewich.

The US Department of Defense is currently continuing a review of its military presence in Europe, which could pave the way for a reduction of American troops on the continent. The review, expected to be completed by November 6, is set to present at least four options to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.