Europe Considers Backup Defense Strategy as US Role in NATO Faces Questions
European countries are exploring a NATO “Plan B” to ensure security if the US reduces its role, with Germany backing the initiative amid rising geopolitical tensions.
European policymakers are increasingly weighing a scenario in which the region would have to take primary responsibility for its own defense if the United States were to step back from NATO. According to The Wall Street Journal, which cites informed sources, discussions around such a contingency plan — effectively a «Plan B» — are gaining traction across European capitals.
The initiative has gathered particular momentum following Germany’s endorsement, the report notes, giving fresh impetus to what had previously been a more tentative conversation.
At the same time, the concept is not framed as a replacement for NATO. Rather, it is intended as a safeguard — a fallback option in case Washington reduces its military footprint in the European Union or declines to uphold its defense commitments. Sources emphasize that keeping the United States within the alliance remains the preferred outcome, though there is growing recognition that Europe may ultimately need to shoulder a larger share of the defense burden.
The idea itself dates back to 2025, but its development accelerated after statements by U. S. President Donald Trump about seeking control over Greenland. In recent months, the issue has gained additional urgency against the backdrop of European countries choosing not to support the United States in its operation against Iran.