On Monday, July 27, the United States initiated a strategic Europe Posture Review of its military forces on the continent. The effort seeks to encourage European partners to shoulder more responsibility for their own defence.

US Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby posted on social media that the review would accelerate Nato's shift to a stronger, fairer and sustainable alliance by motivating allies to lead conventional defence in Europe.

This path would set Nato on course for enduring success amid simultaneous challenges in multiple theatres, he added.

Colby had earlier advocated revitalising the alliance as Nato 3.0, a step some believe would hasten its Europeanisation.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth first announced the six-month Pentagon review at a Nato defence ministers meeting in Brussels on 18 June.

It is an assessment some countries will fail while others pass with distinction, he said at the time.

Hegseth unveiled the review after European allies refused to allow US forces to use bases on the continent for strikes on Iran, further annoying President Donald Trump who called the decision a very foolish mistake.

The review follows the US 2026 National Defense Strategy issued in January, which states that US forces will no longer bear the main burden of defending Europe and will instead focus deterrence on China in the Indo-Pacific.

Raised Nato defence spending targets from two to five percent of GDP leave allies strongly positioned to assume responsibility for Europe's defence with critical but reduced US support, the strategy notes.

Yet experts maintain that withdrawing American troops from Europe would harm both the continent's security and stability as well as broader US interests.