The , under the weight of the ongoing conflict in , have reportedly issued a stern ultimatum to their allies in . According to Pentagon officials, it is asking European nations to take over most of the alliance’s conventional defense capabilities — from intelligence to critical missile systems — by 2027. This timetable is characterized by many European capitals as extremely pressing and difficult to implement.
This issue was recently discussed in Washington, in a meeting of Pentagon officials with European diplomats. Five sources with knowledge of the dialogue told Reuters that the Americans expressed strong displeasure at the slow progress Europe has made from 2022 onwards, despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The requirement to transfer the “burden” of conventional defense — except for the nuclear arsenal — from the US to the European member states would significantly change the way the Alliance operates, analysts say. In fact, according to US officials, if the Europeans do not meet the 2027 deadline, the US may reconsider its participation in some NATO coordination mechanisms.
Whether this is an official US position remains to be seen
However, it is not yet clear whether this demand represents an official position of the Trump administration or whether it reflects the views of specific Pentagon officials. It is known, however, that within the US government there are different assessments of the level of military presence that the US should have in Europe in the future.
On the European side, many officials recognize that 2027 is an extremely ambitious deadline. The continent is called upon not only to secure the necessary financial resources, but also to demonstrate political determination. In addition, several member states face significant delays in the production of military equipment, while some advanced US systems that could fill critical gaps take years to be delivered.
The US also continues to provide capabilities that cannot be readily duplicated, such as advanced intelligence gathering and analysis services, which have proven essential to Ukraine’s defense.
Already Europeans are trying to take more responsibility for security
A NATO official who was asked about it confirmed that the European allies have begun to increase their responsibilities for the security of the continent, without commenting on the specific timetable.
At the recent NATO summit in The Hague, US President Donald Trump praised the decision of European governments to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Accordingly, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stressed that Europe must take primary responsibility for its own defence, stressing that the US administration is determined to implement this strategy.
Although most European countries accept the need to invest more in security, the European Union still points to major gaps in areas such as air defense, drones, cyber warfare and ammunition stockpiles. Even the goal of autonomy by 2030 is considered extremely ambitious by several analysts.
