US ambassador to NATO says Washington will not withdraw from alliance
Matthew Whitaker told a Warsaw forum that the US remains committed to NATO but wants Europe to take more responsibility for its own defence, as Washington reviews troop numbers.
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The US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, said on Monday that Washington remains committed to defending Europe and will not withdraw from the alliance, even as the United States reviews its military presence on the continent. "We still love you," he told the Warsaw Security Forum.
Speaking on a panel about a US-backed "NATO 3.0" model, Whitaker said the alliance needs to modernise its military infrastructure to move forces and equipment from Western to Eastern Europe, where any future conflict would most likely occur. He cited outdated bases, fuel supply chains and troop-stationing agreements as areas needing attention under an ongoing Pentagon review of US force posture in Europe, and said he had discussed the shift with EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
Whitaker said Europe now ranks fourth among Washington's strategic priorities, behind homeland security, the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific, and argued the US was not stepping back but asking allies to step forward. He announced no decision to relocate or withdraw American troops, but said Washington was reassessing its global commitments to avoid overextending its military resources. The Pentagon's review of force posture in Europe is due to conclude in December and will be presented to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; the Pentagon already ordered about 5,000 troops out of Germany in May.
Whitaker criticised allies falling short of defence-spending commitments, saying he had delivered a strong message to Czech political leaders over the country's defence spending of about 1.8% of GDP, below NATO's 2% threshold. He praised Poland, which he said was spending 4.7% of GDP on core defence, among NATO's highest rates.
Kubilius, speaking alongside him, said the shift did not mean Washington was abandoning Europe but that Europe needed to take responsibility for deterring aggression on its own territory, citing EU efforts to build up drone defences, satellite communications and surveillance capabilities. Kubilius has previously estimated that replacing US strategic military assets could cost Europe up to 500 billion euros, with some experts suggesting the continent may need 300,000 additional troops if Washington continues withdrawing military support.
Polish presidential adviser Marcin Przydacz and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz both urged Western European allies at the forum to accelerate defence spending, while stressing that NATO, not the EU, should remain responsible for Europe's collective defence.
What we know
- 1 outlet · BalkanWeb US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Washington remains committed to European defence and will not withdraw from the alliance, telling a Warsaw forum "We still love you."
- 1 outlet · BalkanWeb He called for NATO to modernise infrastructure and shift forces from Western to Eastern Europe, where any future conflict would most likely occur.
- 1 outlet · BalkanWeb Whitaker said Europe ranks fourth among US strategic priorities, after homeland security, the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific; the Pentagon's review of force posture in Europe concludes in December.
- 1 outlet · BalkanWeb He criticised Czechia's defence spending of about 1.8% of GDP, below NATO's 2% threshold, and praised Poland's 4.7%.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
NATO allies agreed at their 2025 summit in The Hague to raise core defence spending from 2% to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, plus a further 1.5% for wider security and defence spending; Whitaker's comments show Washington pressing allies to meet that target as it reassesses its own troop levels in Europe. The debate comes as European intelligence agencies warn Russia could be capable of attacking a NATO member by the end of the decade, and as a leaked European Defence Agency report reportedly found major gaps in European capabilities, particularly in drone defence and naval warfare.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- BalkanWeb: “Ne ende ju duam”- Ambasadori i SHBA në NATO: Uashingtoni nuk do të tërhiqet nga aleanca! Europa duhet të marrë përgjegjësi në duart e veta
- POLITICO Europe: Trump’s NATO envoy calls for moving military forces east as US reviews troops in Europe
- G4Media: Ambasadorul SUA la NATO cere mutarea forțelor și echipamentelor militare spre estul Europei, în contextul revizuirii prezenței americane
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Is the US withdrawing from NATO?
- No. Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said Washington remains committed to the alliance and is not withdrawing, though it is reviewing its troop posture in Europe.
- What did Whitaker ask European allies to do?
- He said Europe should take more responsibility for its own defence and increase spending, and that NATO should shift more forces toward Eastern Europe.
- Which countries did Whitaker single out on defence spending?
- He criticised Czechia for spending about 1.8% of GDP on defence, below NATO's 2% threshold, and praised Poland for spending 4.7%.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.