US Ambassador to NATO Whitaker:
Under President Trump, our mission in Brussels has been clear: transitioning the conventional defense of Europe to our Allies. The U.S. remains a committed partner, but Allies must step up and take over.
Assessment
The US Ambassador to NATO is publicly reinforcing a policy shift under President Trump that demands European allies assume primary responsibility for conventional defense. This marks a deliberate departure from the postwar baseline where the US bore the largest share of NATO's conventional burden. The statement signals that Washington expects measurable increases in European defense spending and capability commitments. The next move to watch is how NATO allies respond, particularly whether new national defense plans or joint procurement initiatives emerge to satisfy this demand.