The Trump administration is pushing NATO allies to embrace “NATO 3.0,” which would see European member states take more responsibility for their own defense. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both skipped multiple high-level NATO meetings. In their stead, high-ranking officials such as Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby have urged faster rearmament, telling Europeans “time is of the essence.”
One person who clearly does not believe our European allies are moving quickly enough is President Donald Trump. Out of frustration with the slow pace, the president recently ordered 5,000 troops out of Germany and threatened more could follow. Where they are going, however, remains uncertain. After giving the removal order, Trump announced he was sending 4,000 to Poland, though it was unclear whether these were the troops removed from Germany or a new group.
The thinking is straightforward: Poland spends more on defense as a percentage of GDP than any NATO member, and therefore will be rewarded. Germany, which is refusing to spend money and is unlikely to do so in the future, will likewise be punished.
While this logic is understandable, it will not achieve the goal of European rearmament. Painful as it may be for countries on NATO’s eastern front—which have rearmed—Europe as a whole will never move to rearm if America does not start bringing her troops home.
Author
Events on Europe and Eurasia
