USA Notes Progress by European Nations in Building NATO 3.0

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Andrew Colby, citing Reuters, noted the progress made by European NATO allies on the NATO 3.0 project.

This was reported on his page on X.

At the summit in Ankara, which will take place next week, NATO will announce that European alliance members have filled nearly all the gaps left by the United States in their defense plans.

“Under the visionary leadership of President Trump and Secretary Hegset, we are moving toward NATO 3.0, in which Europe assumes primary responsibility for its own defense through conventional armed forces. Many claimed that this was impossible—that Europe would be unable or unwilling to step up its efforts. This claim is being disproved right before our eyes,” Elbridge Colby stated.

On June 3, Pentagon officials informed allies that the U.S. would adjust its contribution to NATO’s force structure in accordance with the burden-sharing guidelines outlined in the 2026 National Defense Strategy and the vision for NATO 3.0.

“The NATO force model has exhibited an unhealthy dependence on U.S. troops. President Trump, Minister Hegset, and others have made it clear that this must change—and it will. This is required by the potential reality of simultaneous conflicts across multiple theaters of operations,” said U.S. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich, commander of U.S. European Command (USEUCOM).

Above all, the allies want to convince the U.S. president that, within the framework of the NATO Defense Industry Forum (NSDIF26), progress is being made toward increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP.