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US Calls on Europe, Canada to Strengthen Conventional Defense
(MENAFN) The United States is urging European allies and Canada to take greater responsibility for conventional defense across Europe, with Washington seeking to preserve more of its military capabilities for potential security challenges in the Pacific, according to reports.
"That's going to free up the United States to project power globally and deal with the things like the Pacific situations that we may confront in the future," Whitaker told US television network Fox Business.
The US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, said Washington is looking for "strong, capable allies that we can rely on," while arguing that European countries significantly reduced their military capabilities following the collapse of the Soviet Union, leaving American taxpayers to shoulder a larger share of the defense burden.
Whitaker said European allies have begun increasing their defense efforts, but stressed that the changes are not taking place quickly enough to meet Washington's expectations.
The approach forms part of a wider shift in US defense priorities under President Donald Trump, with the administration seeking to redirect military resources from conventional land defense in Europe toward efforts aimed at deterring China, in line with the 2026 US National Defense Strategy.
Under the emerging arrangement, European governments with greater financial resources are expected to supply the conventional forces needed for Europe's frontline defense, while the US would continue providing nuclear deterrence and maintaining the ability to reinforce its allies when necessary.
The latest push also follows earlier calls from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for European allies to assume greater responsibility for protecting the continent and managing its conventional security needs.
"That's going to free up the United States to project power globally and deal with the things like the Pacific situations that we may confront in the future," Whitaker told US television network Fox Business.
The US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, said Washington is looking for "strong, capable allies that we can rely on," while arguing that European countries significantly reduced their military capabilities following the collapse of the Soviet Union, leaving American taxpayers to shoulder a larger share of the defense burden.
Whitaker said European allies have begun increasing their defense efforts, but stressed that the changes are not taking place quickly enough to meet Washington's expectations.
The approach forms part of a wider shift in US defense priorities under President Donald Trump, with the administration seeking to redirect military resources from conventional land defense in Europe toward efforts aimed at deterring China, in line with the 2026 US National Defense Strategy.
Under the emerging arrangement, European governments with greater financial resources are expected to supply the conventional forces needed for Europe's frontline defense, while the US would continue providing nuclear deterrence and maintaining the ability to reinforce its allies when necessary.
The latest push also follows earlier calls from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for European allies to assume greater responsibility for protecting the continent and managing its conventional security needs.
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