Europe Urged: Step Up Defense, Build Credibility

US Calls on Europe to Bolster Defense Capabilities, Signaling Shift in NATO Strategy

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - In a move signaling a potential shift in the balance of power within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a top US official urged European allies to take primary responsibility for their own defense. Elbridge Colby, the US Under Secretary of War for Policy, delivered the message during a meeting with NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Colby emphasized the need for "clear-eyed realism and fundamental adaptation" within the alliance, suggesting that the current approach was "no longer fit for purpose," according to Al Jazeera.

Colby's remarks underscored the US's expectation that Europe should take the lead in defending itself as the world becomes more militarized, as reported by Sky News. He stated that the US was not abandoning its allies, but that the alliance must be prepared for potential enemies to strike simultaneously in different parts of the globe. This call for increased European responsibility comes as the UK and its European allies are scrambling to bolster their defenses in a changing world order, according to Sky News.

The meeting in Brussels saw the absence of US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, which one ally described as "missing a good party," according to Sky News. While other allies downplayed the no-show, Germany's defense minister emphasized the need for European nations to step up their defense efforts.

The US official highlighted that European nations are now being judged not only on their defense spending but also on their military credibility, as reported by Sky News. The article also noted that the UK is falling short in this regard. Colby's message to NATO was that it is not just about how much money a country spends but what the cash is spent on and whether input translates to credible military output.

This call for increased European defense capabilities comes as North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, is reportedly set to name his daughter as his successor, according to Sky News. The announcement could come at a party congress later this month.