USA urges allies to speed shift to 'NATO 3.0' at Ukraine Defense Contact Group
Europe must accelerate the process of taking primary responsibility for the continent’s conventional defense, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, according to the U.S. Defense Department press service.
"Europe must step up and accelerate this transition to ‘NATO 3.0’ – not just with words, but with deeds and a fundamental change in attitude. I know many of you are already increasing defense spending and working to grow your industrial capacity. But it is vital that we lean forward even more," Colby said.
He said the United States "continues to shoulder a global security burden," although it must "prioritize the most consequential threats to Americans."
"The defense of Ukraine has been sustained largely by drawing down finite U.S. stockpiles, supplemented by Europe’s contributions. This has been a ‘NATO 2.0’ response to a ‘NATO 3.0’ reality. Fortunately, this has begun to change. But time is of the essence – it is a luxury we do not have. I must stress the importance of dramatic action for Europe to accelerate stepping up," Colby said.
He said Europe must place the continent’s defense and, consequently, its military support for Ukraine on a truly sustainable footing. The United States is prepared to continue helping through initiatives such as PURL, but that support should not depend on major U.S. contributions.
"The need to quickly rebuild European munitions stocks is paramount, as is the need to remove protectionist trade barriers that stifle the continent’s industrial potential. We are prepared to support and work with you on this. Developing a robust, capable, and integrated European defense industrial base cannot simply be an aspiration, but an absolute pre-requisite for credible deterrence and defense. This is a historic opportunity for European defense cohesion and again, we are prepared to support in this area. This will be critical to achieving an end to the war in Ukraine, on terms that support an enduring peace," Colby said.
A steady and significant flow of European financial contributions to the PURL initiative would be a welcome sign of the necessary change, he said, but even more importantly, Europe must create the capacity to meet these requirements on its own.
"We will all benefit from a stronger and more coherent European defense industrial base alongside a growing and more vital American one. If Europe rises to this moment – truly embracing primary responsibility for the defense of the continent in line with our vision of a rebalanced ‘NATO 3.0’ – we will all be stronger and more credible in defending our people and our national interests. This will put our historical transatlantic alliance on stronger and more sustainable footing, and we will all be better for it," Colby said.
