The reassessment of the scale of the US military presence in Europe has caused serious concern within NATO and effectively forced allies to compete with one another to host American troops. According to Politico, following a visit to Brussels by US Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, capitals across the alliance fear a possible reduction in American forces and are seeking to keep them on their territory.

According to the publication, the ongoing review has created fears among NATO members that they will have to compete for the US military presence. Countries that regard American forces as a crucial element of their own security are particularly interested in keeping them.

Additional tensions have been caused by a detailed questionnaire that the Pentagon sent to European allies in August. NATO countries were asked to provide Washington with information on a wide range of issues, including changes in defense spending and the extent of their support for US foreign policy.

One European diplomat described the review process as a frightening experience. In his assessment, the situation resembles one in which allies are effectively required to demonstrate unconditional loyalty to the United States, as if they were being asked to swear allegiance to a suzerain.

One of the main objectives of the US review is to remove political and legal obstacles that could restrict the use of military bases located in Europe. Washington hardened its position after some allies, including Spain, refused to allow the United States to use infrastructure on their territory for strikes against Iran.

The US is now seeking the ability to maneuver its forces freely across the European continent and use the relevant infrastructure without such restrictions.

At the same time, Washington is accelerating the transfer of greater responsibility for defense to European countries. Bloomberg previously reported that the United States is demanding that its NATO allies increase military spending while Washington reviews the size and structure of its military presence in Europe.

Eastern European countries are particularly concerned about the prospect of troop reductions. In an effort to keep American units on their territory, some have offered to cover part of the costs associated with hosting US forces. As a result, the reassessment of America’s military strategy has already turned into a struggle among European NATO members for the right to retain troops from their key ally.