European NATO members are accelerating plans to lead conventional defence as the alliance moves beyond the Greenland dispute, with the US urging greater burden-sharing.
BRUSSELS: NATO allies declared the crisis over Greenland has passed and are now focusing on accelerating Europe’s role in leading the alliance’s conventional defence.
The 32-nation alliance announced the start of an Arctic Sentry mission to increase security in the region, a move Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said would meet US concerns.
While relieved the immediate storm has subsided, the episode has reinforced the urgent need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence against Russia.
This aligns with the Trump administration’s message that Europe must step up as Washington pivots to challenges like China.
US deputy defence minister Elbridge Colby said allies are progressing towards a situation where “Europe that leads the conventional defense of NATO”.
He described the goal as a “3.0 NATO that’s based on a partnership rather than dependency” at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters.
To realise this ambition, NATO needs significant progress on defence spending pledges made at last year’s summit.
Military budgets have risen since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a trend accelerated by President Trump.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged “the billions are coming in” but insisted the US would remain central to European security.
He predicted a continued strong US conventional presence and its nuclear umbrella as Europe’s ultimate security guarantor.
In a tangible sign of Europe taking more responsibility, the US this week handed two senior regional command positions to Britain and Italy.
Diplomats heralded the move as increased “burden-sharing” in action.
French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin responded to a prior Pentagon demand for European self-sufficiency by stating “we are going to do it, we have started to do it”.
The next crucial test will be the NATO summit in Ankara this July.
Allies must convince Trump they are doing enough, with a first full report on defence spending due.
NATO’s US ambassador Matthew Whitaker said some allies, particularly those further from the eastern flank, are not moving fast enough.
“We really expect them to do more,” he said.
