The Aporia · Pentagon policy chief says NATO allies back Europe defence shift

Elbridge Colby, Pentagon policy chief, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 28 that NATO allies support a new approach called "NATO 3.0," where Europe would take more responsibility for its defense without relying as heavily on US nuclear weapons and troop presence. The ongoing review of American forces in Europe is part of this strategy, with the US currently having about 80,000 troops there, slightly above the restricted cut-off level of 76,000 troops without extensive consultations. Allies are increasing defense spending and buying more US-made weapons as part of this shift towards greater burden-sharing among NATO members.

Written by AI on 2026-09-29, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby told the Senate Armed Services Committee that NATO allies are supporting a shift towards greater self-reliance in European defense, a vision dubbed "NATO 3.0" by the Trump administration. This comes amid a six-month review of American troop levels in Europe, which has raised concerns among some lawmakers about potential vulnerabilities if US troops were to be reduced before allies are prepared to step up their own defense capabilities. The Pentagon submitted a 16-page document to committee members on September 28 but the actual briefing was dated September 22. Lawmakers have previously used the Pentagon’s annual policy bill to restrict troop cuts below 76,000 troops without extensive consultations with allies and Congress. Currently, the US has approximately this number of troops in Europe, aiming to ensure that any changes do not compromise NATO's security.

Written for “NATO Allies Support Europe Defense” on 2026-11-05, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 NATO Allies Support Europe Defense

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An ongoing six-month review of American troop levels in Europe is at the stage where the Defence Department is “showing them how to step up and then helping them to do so,” Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby told the Senate Armed Services Committee in a statement released on Sept 28 but dated Sept 22.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-29

🔮 Europeans have expressed concerns that the US could withdraw troops and equipment from the continent, in a reorganisation that the Trump administration calls NATO 3.0, before allies are ready to replace them – creating new vulnerabilities at a time when Russia poses a continued threat.

2026-09-29 · The Straits Times

Pentagon policy chief says NATO allies back Europe defence shift · assertive framing

Pentagon policy chief says NATO allies back Europe defence shift AI generated asserted

allies → say → shift

As European capitals brace for US troop cuts, the Pentagon’s top policy official is telling lawmakers in Washington that allies are on board with a vision of “NATO 3.0” in which Europe maintains its own non-nuclear defence. asserted

Europe → brace → defence

Colby → show → Sept

The department submitted a 16-page document to committee members after Colby delivered a required briefing on the administration’s 2026 National Defence Strategy, drawing bipartisan criticism for what members of Congress saw as a lack of transparency. asserted

members → submit → transparency

In 2025, lawmakers used the Pentagon’s annual policy Bill to restrict the administration’s ability to cut the US presence in Europe below 76,000 troops without engaging in extensive consultations with allies and Congress and taking steps to mitigate any security risks to the alliance. asserted

lawmakers → use → alliance

The US currently has about 80,000 troops in Europe. asserted

US → have → Europe

Europeans have expressed concerns that the US could withdraw troops and equipment from the continent, in a reorganisation that the Trump administration calls NATO 3.0, before allies are ready to replace them – creating new vulnerabilities at a time when Russia poses a continued threat. uncertain

Russia → express → threat

President Donald Trump complained that NATO allies were unwilling to join the war in Iran, which he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started without consultations. asserted

he → complain → consultations

In response, allies placed limits on the US military’s use of their bases and airspace. asserted

allies → place → bases

The president has signalled his intention to punish allies for this perceived disloyalty. asserted

president → signal → disloyalty

According to Colby’s missive, the administration’s campaign for increased burden-sharing among allies “appears to be working,” with allies increasing their investments in defence, buying US-made weapons and bolstering their domestic defence industries. The under secretary advised lawmakers that “allies have typically responded constructively to the department’s outreach,” through conversations with US officials and in “substantive responses” to a questionnaire submitted to allied capitals that sought to assess not only their strategic contributions, but their loyalty to the president’s policies. BLOOMBERG uncertain

that → accord → policies

Pentagon policy chief says NATO allies back Europe defence shift

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