During discussions conducted by Pentagon representatives, it was pointed out that if allied countries do not manage to meet these requirements, the U.S. may reduce its involvement in certain aspects of the alliance's defense coordination.
Although NATO did not provide specific comments regarding the deadlines, they noted that European states have already begun to engage more actively in security issues in the region.
Washington has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow buildup of defense capabilities by European countries since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. It remains unclear what criteria the U.S. will use to assess progress, given the wide range of non-nuclear capabilities that include both armaments and personnel.
European representatives believe that meeting U.S. requirements by 2027 is practically impossible. They emphasize that significantly more time will be needed to compensate for the critically important capabilities currently provided by America. Additional complications arise from delays in defense production: many American systems may only be delivered several years after ordering. Furthermore, European countries rely on unique intelligence and surveillance capabilities that they cannot quickly replace.
Nevertheless, European states agree on the necessity of increasing their defense role. The EU has set a goal to ensure the capability for autonomous defense by 2030, which implies eliminating shortfalls in areas such as air defense systems, drones, cybersecurity, and munitions. However, experts note that even this timeline remains extremely ambitious.
