The United States has given European allies a firm deadline of 2027 to assume responsibility for the majority of NATO’s conventional defense capabilities, Pentagon officials told diplomats during meetings in Washington this week. According to sources, if Europe fails to meet these expectations, the U.S. is prepared to withdraw from certain coordination mechanisms within the Alliance.
A Pentagon Ultimatum
According to accounts from five individuals familiar with the discussions — including one U.S. official — the ultimatum was delivered during a meeting between Pentagon personnel responsible for NATO policy and delegations from several European countries. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the talks, described Washington’s message as “the most forceful in years.”
The U.S. administration reportedly stressed that, more than two years into Russia’s war against Ukraine, Europe’s contribution to strengthening defense capabilities remains insufficient. Despite rising military spending across many EU countries — including a growing number that have reached or surpassed the 2% of GDP threshold — the Pentagon expects faster and more coordinated action.
What Exactly Does the United States Want?
The “conventional defense capabilities” referred to in the ultimatum encompass all of NATO’s non-nuclear assets — from troop numbers and modern weapons systems, to logistics capabilities, and advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. These are the areas in which, according to the Pentagon, Europe must assume significantly greater responsibility within the next two years.
Washington signals that its role in NATO must evolve, and that the burden of ensuring European security must be distributed more evenly. The threat of withdrawing from certain coordination functions is intended to accelerate the adaptation of European armed forces to a new security reality.
A Turning Point in Transatlantic Cooperation?
If the ultimatum stands in its current form, it could mark the most significant shift in U.S.–European defense relations since the end of the Cold War. Washington has long urged Europe to increase its defense spending, but the tone of the latest message is more categorical than at any time in recent decades.
In practice, the pressure means that European NATO members will be expected to:
- accelerate modernization of their armed forces,
- increase production of ammunition and missile systems,
- expand ISR capabilities,
- build interoperable command structures that do not depend on U.S. leadership.
Europe Between Ambition and Reality
Although most European capitals publicly support strengthening strategic autonomy, achieving the Pentagon’s demands by 2027 will be extremely challenging. Industrial bottlenecks in defense production, investment delays, and internal political divisions within the EU make it difficult to scale up capabilities at the pace Washington expects.
At the same time, uncertainty is growing about the long-term U.S. commitment to European security — especially in light of political changes in Washington.
