British News Agency

Speaking at the NATO meeting held in Brussels, senior U.S. official Elbridge Colby said that European countries need to take greater responsibility for their own defense.

Stating that Europe’s conventional defense should primarily be undertaken by European allies, Colby said: “Europe must take primary responsibility for its own conventional defense.”

Colby stressed that this approach does not mean turning away from NATO: “This is not abandoning NATO.”

Noting that the world has entered a more unstable and dangerous era, Colby warned that conflicts could break out simultaneously in multiple regions. “Power politics has returned, and military force is once again being used on a large scale.”

Referring to U.S. strategic priorities, Colby stated that Washington will prioritize threats “where only American power can play a decisive role.”

At the same time, he emphasized that the U.S. is not turning its back on the NATO alliance and that transatlantic ties remain intact.