The review process is prompting concerns that allies might compete for a U.S. military presence on their lands.
During a recent meeting with envoys, “allies participated in a ‘beauty contest’,” a NATO diplomat remarked, indicating that each was showcasing their country’s implementation of NATO 3.0, an initiative aimed at encouraging Europe to take charge of its conventional defense.
Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski expressed to POLITICO that Warsaw was “prepared to suggest” various locations, “financing,” and “logistics required” for a proposal to station U.S. troops in Poland permanently. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the review prioritizes “common interests” rather than enticing offers.
Though NATO ambassadors did not present specific proposals to Colby during Thursday’s meeting, they emphasized their advancements in alliance military capability targets, defense expenditure, and their plans to replace U.S. forces within the alliance’s war strategies, according to two NATO diplomats. One described the meeting as overall “very constructive.”
U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who oversees American forces in Europe, is expected to deliver military recommendations to Colby for the review next month, based on insights from someone familiar with the affair, preceding a more formal review outcome decision by Hegseth in November.
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