U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby is scheduled to brief NATO ambassadors in Brussels on Thursday regarding a review of U.S. military forces in Europe. The briefing follows a June announcement of a six-month review of troop deployments, initiated as the U.S. administration asks European nations to take primary responsibility for their own defense.
The review process occurs as U.S. officials have expressed dissatisfaction with European levels of assistance during the conflict in Iran. According to officials and documents, European governments are currently seeking clarity on whether the review will lead to further reductions in the approximately 80,000 U.S. troops stationed across the continent.
U.S. officials circulated a questionnaire to NATO members this summer asking for specific details on defense spending, strategy, and procurement. The document also inquired whether allies would be willing to reduce or eliminate restrictions on U.S. military access, basing, and overflight (ABO) within their territories. Furthermore, the questionnaire asked if countries have publicly supported U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Middle East and the Western Hemisphere.
Colby stated on Wednesday that the review is intended to ensure the alliance is rededicated to "clarity, rigor, and readiness." However, some European diplomats described the U.S. approach as transactional, noting that the questionnaire appeared to link military basing issues to political stances. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed that his country is preparing a response, stating that Estonia agrees Europe must do more for its defense.
Military personnel and their families would notice changes in housing, job assignments, and local economies if bases are closed or reduced. Small businesses near U.S. installations in countries like Germany or Italy would likely see a reduction in revenue as troop numbers decline. Additionally, the U.S. questionnaire indicates that future military cooperation may be contingent on how individual countries align with U.S. foreign policy and whether they remove regulations that inhibit transatlantic defense industrial cooperation.
The review sets a precedent for a more individualized relationship between the U.S. and its allies, which some diplomats warned could lead to a "beauty contest" where nations compete for U.S. military presence. The six-month review, which began in June 2026, is expected to conclude by December 2026. Ambassadors will use the Thursday briefing to advocate for their continued strategic importance, while the U.S. will assess the responses to its questionnaire to determine final force postures.