The United States wants NATO to return to its fundamental mission of collective defence of the Alliance’s territory, abandoning operations beyond the treaty area and focusing on deterring threats to Europe.
This position was outlined by the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew G. Whitaker, in an interview with the Polish outlet Defence24, in which he explained the principles behind the new NATO 3.0 concept.
According to Whitaker, the concept involves returning the Alliance to the purpose for which it was founded, while increasing European countries’ responsibility for their own security.
“NATO 3.0 is a restoration of NATO to its original state. It is an Alliance that defines and defends itself on the European continent. It does not engage in operations outside its area, and it has no allies that spend less than the amounts necessary to defend and deter threats against the Alliance. I see it as a project that is progressing well,” Whitaker said.
The NATO 3.0 concept, promoted by the administration of US President Donald Trump, envisages European countries taking greater responsibility for the continent’s defence, increasing military readiness and expanding the production capacity of their defence industries.
One of the key pillars of this approach is the commitment to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adopted at the NATO Summit in The Hague in June 2025. Under the agreement, by 2035, allies are expected to allocate 5 per cent of GDP to defence and security, including at least 3.5 per cent for core military requirements.
Whitaker welcomed the increase in military spending by European countries but stressed that the progress was insufficient and that all member states must meet the target.
“We saw our European allies increase their defence spending by $139 billion compared with 2024. I think this is a great first step, but it is not enough. We need everyone to reach 5 per cent. Poland will reach that target, and all our Baltic allies will reach it next year. But we need every ally to step up,” he said.
The US representative warned that increased defence budgets must not remain merely political commitments but must translate into concrete military capabilities, weapons and readiness to defend the territory of member states.
He also rejected the possibility of any ally backtracking on its defence investment commitments, stressing that collective security requires a sustained contribution from every country.
“We cannot go backwards. We cannot have allies who think they can enjoy security without spending and investing the money necessary to acquire the capabilities required. That is how we deter and defend every inch of the Alliance,” Whitaker stressed.
His remarks come amid intensified discussions between Washington and its European allies about NATO’s future and the division of security responsibilities.
On November 3, a meeting of the Bergen Group, a US-initiated initiative, was held in Kraków, Poland. Representatives from Poland, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Sweden took part. Discussions focused on the future of the Alliance, strengthening European military capabilities and European states assuming greater responsibility for defending the continent.
Washington’s position is that NATO membership cannot replace investment in armed forces, weapons and the defence industry. Under this approach, the Alliance’s security must rest on concrete military capabilities, including those acquired through purchases of military equipment from the United States.
Further meetings between member states are expected to take place in the coming months, some of which may be held in smaller formats, in line with NATO’s new approach. Poland considers itself an important part of this direction, while the Baltic states have also joined the initiative.
