“Our NATO allies are in a strong position to assume primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense, with critical but more limited U.S. support. This includes leadership in support of Ukraine's defense,” the document states.
The administration of President Donald Trump wants an end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but “this is primarily the responsibility of Europe,” the document notes.
The Pentagon emphasizes that the Russian Federation will remain a “persistent but manageable threat” to eastern NATO members. Despite a number of demographic and economic difficulties, it retains “deep reserves of military and industrial power,” the authors of the document believe.
“Moscow is not in a position to lay claim to European hegemony. European NATO is vastly superior to Russia in economic scale, population, and therefore latent military power…. While we are and will remain involved in Europe, we must and will prioritize defending US territory and containing China,” the text notes.
Context
On December 5, 2025, the United States threatened the Europeans that they could abandon part of their obligations in NATO, Reuters wrote. On December 10, Politico noted that European leaders are increasingly working on a plan in the event of a US withdrawal from NATO.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an interview with NBC News published on January 19 2026, stated that the United States would remain in NATO.
On January 21, WP wrote that the Pentagon is planning reduce US participation in NATO structures, and Trump doubts that the Alliance will come to the rescue USA.
The next day, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in Davos that Europe needs united armed forces. “No one has actually seen the Alliance in action,” the Ukrainian president said.
