Senior Pentagon officials have delivered a stark message to European allies, demanding that the continent assumes primary responsibility for NATO's conventional defence capabilities by 2027. According to sources familiar with the discussions, failure to meet this deadline could lead the United States to withdraw from key NATO coordination mechanisms.
A Clear Ultimatum from Washington
The directive was conveyed during a meeting in Washington this week between Pentagon staff overseeing NATO policy and several European diplomatic delegations. Five sources, including a US official, confirmed the details of the private talks. This represents a potential seismic shift in the post-war alliance, fundamentally altering the US role as a founding member and its collaboration with key military partners.
Officials indicated that Washington remains unsatisfied with the progress Europe has made in bolstering its defence since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The message was unambiguous: if Europe does not step up by 2027, the US may cease participation in certain NATO defence coordination frameworks. Some officials on Capitol Hill are reportedly aware of and concerned by this hardline stance.
Ambitious Deadlines and Practical Hurdles
The 2027 target has been met with significant scepticism in European capitals. Several officials stated that the deadline is unrealistic, arguing that replacing certain US capabilities requires more than just political will and increased budgets. Major obstacles include:
- Production backlogs for critical military equipment.
- Long lead times for advanced US-made weapons systems, which could take years to deliver if ordered today.
- The challenge of replicating unique US contributions, such as specialised intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets that have been vital for Ukraine.
It remains unclear whether the 2027 deadline represents the official position of the Trump administration or the view of Pentagon officials. There are acknowledged disagreements in Washington over the future US military role in Europe.
Broader Political Context and European Response
This ultimatum follows President Donald Trump's recent warnings to European nations about 'civilisational erasure' and his longstanding criticism of allies' defence spending. While Trump praised European leaders at the June NATO summit for agreeing to a new spending target of five per cent of GDP, his administration has consistently pushed for a greater European burden.
European nations have broadly accepted the principle of taking more responsibility for their own security, pledging significant increases in defence spending. The European Union has set its own target for the continent to be ready to defend itself by 2030, focusing on closing gaps in air defence, drones, and munitions. However, analysts consider even this later date highly ambitious.
When asked for comment, a NATO official stated that European allies had recognised the need to invest more and shift the conventional defence burden from the US, but did not address the specific 2027 deadline. The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The situation underscores a period of profound uncertainty for the Atlantic alliance, as the US applies intense pressure for a rapid and substantial rebalancing of defence responsibilities, with a concrete deadline now on the table.
