US consults NATO allies as it reviews troop presence in Europe

US Under Secretary for Defence Elbridge Colby met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the alliance’s ambassadors in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the review of US troop presence in Europe. Washington seeks input from its allies through a questionnaire, which was recently sent to NATO members, according to Colby. The review was announced in June by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and has sparked concerns about potential US troop withdrawals from Europe.

This move is part of Washington's ambition for a "NATO 3.0" framework, which would see European allies shoulder the primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe and provide the majority of the forces necessary. The US would continue to offer its nuclear deterrence to the alliance while concentrating its conventional military contributions to more focused and targeted capabilities.

Despite this shift, Europe remains a "critical interest" for the United States, even as Washington's focus has moved towards the Western Hemisphere and the First Island Chain in the Pacific Ocean. Colby did not disclose specific details of the questionnaire, but mentioned overflight flights as an issue that requires further discussion.