The US Envoy to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, has advised member states to upgrade their military infrastructure in order to facilitate the movement of troops and equipment from Western to Eastern Europe.
What happened
Whitaker made the remarks at the Warsaw Security Forum, where he emphasized the need for NATO members to refashion their military infrastructure to prepare for potential future conflicts in the region.
He also stated that Europe is the fourth priority for American defense, after homeland security, the Western Hemisphere, and the Indo-Pacific. Although he did not confirm any plans for a US troop drawdown, Whitaker noted that Washington is reassessing its military priorities.
Whitaker criticized countries that are not meeting their defense spending targets, specifically mentioning the Czech Republic, which has a defense budget of 1.8% of its GDP, below the 2% NATO standard.
He emphasized that the US is not withdrawing from Europe, but rather asking its allies to take more responsibility for their own defense. This comes amid warnings from European officials that Russia could be prepared to attack a NATO country by 2030.