The Pentagon has told the United States’ European NATO allies that they must assume primary responsibility for the alliance’s conventional defense capabilities by 2027. As they should.
According to a Reuters report citing five anonymous sources, U.S. officials are not impressed with the progress European allies are making to support their own military capabilities, especially in the wake of Russia’s expansion into Ukraine in previous years. If the allies miss the new 2027 deadline, the U.S. could stop participating in some North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) activities. It’s unclear what specific activities would be scaled back for the U.S. This shift of the defensive burden from the U.S. to its European counterparts would significantly alter how the countries work together within the alliance.
According to the report, some U.S. officials in Washington are concerned about the Pentagon’s message to the European countries. The U.S., a founding member of NATO after World War II, has long provided weapons for its nuclear mission. It also provides substantial conventional forces such as ground troops, warships, fighter planes and command-and-control systems. European countries have built up defense spending in Response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 amid concerns of Russian aggression.
“Allies have recognized the need to invest more in defense and shift the burden on conventional defense” from the U.S. to Europe, one official said. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated, “We’ve been very clear in the need for Europeans to lead in the conventional defense of Europe. We are committed to working through NATO coordination mechanisms to strengthen the alliance and ensure its long-term viability as European allies increasingly take on responsibility for conventional deterrence and defense in Europe.” Additionally, at a recent meeting of NATO foreign ministers, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said that it was “obvious” European allies should take responsibility for their defense.