US Official Demands European NATO Members Accelerate Defense Transition to 'NATO 3.0'

In mid-April, Elbridge Colby, the Under Secretary of War for Policy, addressed the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, emphasizing the necessity for European NATO allies to hasten their shift to 'NATO 3.0'. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing self-defense over overextension and urged Europe to take the lead in continental defense, which includes supplying Ukraine through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). Colby pointed out the urgent need to replenish European munitions inventories and eliminate trade barriers to strengthen the defense industrial base. He cautioned that this transition is vital for bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine and suggested that the US might impose punitive actions, such as reducing arms and support, if defense expenditures do not meet expectations.