U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said European countries and Canada should assume primary responsibility for conventional defense in Europe. Whitaker said this division of responsibility would give Washington greater freedom to use its military power globally.
Speaking to Fox Business, Whitaker said the arrangement would make it easier for the United States to focus on potential future threats centered in the Pacific.
Expectations for faster defense action from Europe
Whitaker said Washington needs reliable and capable allies and argued that European countries had weakened their defense capabilities after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He claimed that the burden that emerged during this period was carried by U.S. taxpayers.
Whitaker said European partners had taken some steps in the field of defense but added that progress had not been fast enough.
U.S. plan to reposition military resources
This policy aligns with the Donald Trump administration’s plan to shift military resources away from Europe’s land defense and toward deterring China. Under the 2026 National Defense Strategy, Washington expects wealthy European capitals to provide conventional frontline forces.
Under the plan, the Pentagon is expected to maintain nuclear deterrence and retain options for reinforcement when necessary. The move is viewed as a continuation of the call made by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to allies in February 2025 to assume responsibility for the security of the continent.
The Pentagon began a six-month review in July to reassess troop deployments across Europe.
