The U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, stated on Saturday that “Americans are not leaving” Europe or the alliance, aiming to calm concerns that had caused panic across the continent.
Whitaker’s comments at the Munich Security Conference, reported by POLITICO Pub, came just hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio reassured concerned European allies that Washington will not abandon them, particularly regarding the continued deployment of tens of thousands of U.S. troops.
This year, American officials have adopted a more conciliatory tone at the annual security conference, at a time when the transatlantic alliance faces its greatest tensions in decades. These softer statements contrast sharply with last year’s rhetoric from former Vice President JD Vance, who had criticized European values.
European Responsibility
Whitaker also emphasized the need for Europeans to take greater responsibility for their own defense.
“We need Europe, composed of very wealthy and highly successful countries, to take on conventional defense responsibilities,” he said. “This allows the United States to address other challenges and threats alongside our allies in other regions.”
The Trump administration had previously expressed skepticism about NATO’s relevance and the need for the alliance, with repeated criticism of member-state defense spending, support for Ukraine, and commitments to collective defense.
U.S. Troop Presence Remains
In recent weeks, U.S. officials have reassured European counterparts that the 80,000 American troops stationed on the continent will largely remain in place.
Despite this reassurance, Europe remains uncertain. European Commission Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius is pushing for the creation of a 100,000-strong EU joint military force to safeguard the continent in case of any potential U.S. withdrawal.
