A Pentagon document examined by Reuters puts the Pentagon’s review of U.S. military force posture in Europe, led by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, on a fast track. It also inserts President Trump’s frustration with those European NATO members who were less than supportive of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran into the process.
The review is to place four sets of options in front of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth by November 6, considerably ahead of a December deadline for the review’s completion, according to the document, called the “Terms of Reference.” That document explains the steps that the internal review will take and some of the criteria that will be used to evaluate U.S. basing decisions throughout Europe. The document sets Sept. 18 as the date the top U.S. general in Europe will meet with Colby for a decision briefing, according to the document. That briefing will be key, according to the document, in hashing out options to develop for Hegseth. Colby was expected to speak with NATO ambassadors about the review on Thursday at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters.
