By declaring Europe a tertiary priority in its National Defense Strategy, while facing tensions over Greenland and disagreements with some European allies regarding its military intervention in Iran, the United States is signalling both its expectation of greater European burden-sharing within NATO and a recalibration of its strategic focus. In this evolving context, the Alliance faces a central question: How can Europe take on greater operational responsibility while ensuring that this shift strengthens, rather than weakens, the credibility of US commitments and NATO's deterrence of Russia?

This event will explore the Europeanisation of NATO as a pragmatic, capability-driven process through which European allies could progressively assume greater operational, financial and command responsibilities. It will also examine the future of NATO as an instrument of US foreign policy and the conditions necessary to sustain meaningful US engagement in European security, including through nuclear deterrence.

Particular attention will be paid to the role of the Coalition of the Willing in advancing this shift, as well as to the United Kingdom’s role as both a key NATO ally and an important bilateral defence and security partner for many European countries.

This event welcomes the participation of EPC member organisations, EU institutions and media.

For any enquiries, please contact the University of Surrey's Institute of International Studies 

cbe@surrey.ac.uk