Bold claim: Europe must upgrade its own combat power now, and lead the defense of the continent against Russia. And this is the part most people miss: the balance of burden is shifting, with the Pentagon urging Nato allies to step up even as Washington trims its own traditional force footprint in Europe.
The Pentagon’s policy chief, Elbridge Colby, told European Nato defence ministers in Brussels that European nations should elevate their war-fighting capabilities and take the initiative in safeguarding Europe from potential aggression. He spoke on behalf of the White House, replacing Pete Hegseth, and emphasized that while the US would reduce conventional forces stationed in Europe, Washington remains committed to the alliance.
Colby urged Europe to move from discussing intentions to delivering tangible outputs—stronger readiness, robust stockpiles, and enhanced industrial capacity suited to modern, high-intensity conflict rather than peacetime routines. This message comes as Washington seeks to reset tensions after a recent public clash over Greenland, which involved a demand from Donald Trump that Denmark cede control of the Arctic region.
In Brussels, Colby framed the shift as a focus on war-fighting effectiveness and hard strategic choices about force structure and readiness. He hinted that Europe’s defence spending would need to rise, noting that last summer Nato members agreed to raise core defence budgets to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 to reach U.S. levels. Yet the practical implications of said militarisation remain to be seen.
Colby’s remarks were delivered privately to Nato’s 31 other members at the start of a defence ministers meeting, but the Pentagon released the speech soon after. He stressed that the US would continue to provide an extended nuclear deterrent, while its forces in Europe—about 85,000 personnel—would be deployed in a more limited and targeted way.
As a prominent advocate within the Trump administration for re-prioritizing U.S. military attention away from Europe, Colby argued that the nation’s most consequential interests lie in deterring China and securing the Western Hemisphere, leaving Europe to lead its own conventional defence.
Nevertheless, Colby affirmed that the U.S. would remain ready to act under Nato’s Article 5, which enshrines collective defence if an ally is attacked—a commitment that has been questioned at times by Trump.
The political signal was mixed: the choice to send Colby instead of a cabinet-level official suggested a recalibration of U.S. emphasis toward other strategic challenges, though European diplomats insisted Colby remains an influential figure close to senior leadership.
Following the Brussels gathering, Ukraine’s allies pledged approximately $35 billion in military aid for the current year, announced at a separate Ukraine contact group meeting attended by defence ministers and hosted by UK defence secretary John Healey. The pledges, totaling commitments from around 50 countries, underscore continued support for Ukraine alongside Nato discussions.
