U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colbie Shifts Ukraine Support Responsibility to Europe at NATO

At NATO headquarters in Brussels on August 27, 2026, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colbie stated that the United States expects Europe to assume primary responsibility for its own conventional defense and leading role in supporting Ukraine. This declaration was reported by Ukrainska Pravda. Colbie also remarked that Europe is 'a very wealthy continent,' a comment noted by the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. The statement reflects a strategic pivot by the U.S. toward encouraging European autonomy in defense matters.