US forces in Europe review to be discussed at NATO

US Defense Under Secretary Elbridge Colby is due to brief NATO countries in Brussels on August 27 about Washington's review of its forces in Europe, officials said, amid concern among allies about a possible American pullback from the continent.

Colby will meet ambassadors from the 32 NATO countries at the alliance's headquarters. A NATO official said the United States was consulting allies as part of its force posture review.

Washington launched the six-month review in July as it presses European countries to take principal responsibility for the conventional defence of their continent.

European diplomats said the United States was asking countries about their defence spending and approach to American forces using bases. One diplomat said European countries needed to send a united message on how they were increasing their role.

US President Donald Trump's administration has pressured Europe to spend more on defence while signalling that Washington wants to focus more on other challenges, including China.

The Pentagon has already told allies it is reducing the number of assets it makes available for NATO defence plans. Washington also said in May it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, but Trump later said he was sending the same number to neighbouring Poland.

European countries agreed in 2025 to devote five percent of GDP to security-related spending by 2035.