Europe pushes back as US pressures NATO allies and slams EU in new strategy

European capitals have reacted sharply after two separate signals from Washington this week: a Pentagon message urging Europe to take over most of NATO’s conventional defence by 2027, and a new US national security strategy that delivers a strong political critique against the EU.

According to Reuters, Pentagon officials told European delegations in Washington that the US wants Europe to assume the bulk of NATO’s non-nuclear defence capabilities, including intelligence and missile systems, within two years. Several European officials immediately dismissed the deadline as impossible.

It remains unclear whether the 2027 target reflects the Trump administration’s formal position or the views of senior defence officials. But the warning that the US may withdraw from certain NATO coordination mechanisms if Europe lags has caused alarm across the alliance.

The reaction to the administration’s new National Security Strategy was even more outspoken. Released late at night on Friday, the document accuses Europe of over-regulation, censorship, declining birth rates, “civilisational erasure” through immigration, and a loss of national identity. It argues that European governments are undermining democracy and blocking their publics’ desire for peace.

"Europe is your closest ally, not your problem"

European politicians moved quickly to condemn it. Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said Europe “does not need outside advice”. France’s Valerie Hayer called the document “unacceptable and dangerous”, while Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said that "Europe is your closest ally, not your problem". EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, meanwhile, said criticism from Washington was “expected” and “partly fair”, but stressed the US remains Europe’s “main ally”. European Council president Antonio costa, in turn, said: "What we cannot accept is this threat of interference in the political life of Europe."

Moscow, by contrast, has welcomed the new US approach. It praised the absence of Russia as a direct threat and the call for the Ukraine war to end quickly for the sake of “stability”.

^{EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ​ © Nicolas TUCAT / AFP}