US envoy Matthew Whitaker urges NATO to move forces east, ranks Europe fourth

Infrastructure for moving troops east

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told a panel at the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday, 12 October, that the alliance must modernize its military infrastructure so forces and equipment can move from Western to Eastern Europe, "where we would expect any future conflict" to occur. He pointed to outdated military bases, fuel supply chains and the agreements that govern the stationing of American troops in Europe as areas needing attention. These issues belong to a wider review of U.S. force posture and basing on the continent, which is still under way. Whitaker argued that having troops available is not enough, because they must be able to reach the place where they may be needed quickly. He said he had already discussed military mobility with the EU Commissioner for Defence, Andrius Kubilius.

Europe ranked fourth in US priorities

Whitaker placed Europe fourth in Washington's strategic priorities, behind homeland security, the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific. He tied this order to the national security strategy and national defence strategy that President Donald Trump has announced. Whitaker did not announce any specific relocation or withdrawal of American troops from Europe. He said Washington wants to avoid taking on more military commitments than it can support, and that the United States is not taking a step back. He asked Europeans to step forward and join the Americans, investing as much as the United States has invested over the past 77 years.

Spending demands and the allied response

Whitaker said the United States could potentially spend perhaps $1.5 trillion on defence, with its industrial capacity largely serving American forces, so Europe needs a more productive defence industry and a real transatlantic defence industrial base. He criticized countries that do not meet their defence spending commitments and said he had recently sent a firm message to political leaders in Czechia, whose defence spending this year is about 1.8% of GDP, below NATO's current 2% threshold.

Marcin Przydacz, state secretary in the Chancellery of the President of Poland, spoke on the same panel and told European allies they should do more because they are wealthy enough to spend somewhat more on their own security. He said Poland will spend about 5% of GDP on defence and has long met NATO's goal of at least 2%, and that the burden should not fall on American taxpayers.

Russian hybrid attacks and Ukraine aid

Separately, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, urged European states at the Warsaw forum on Sunday, 11 October, to step up support for Ukraine in response to Russian hybrid actions. He cited sabotage, airspace violations, deliberate arson and cyberattacks as concerns for European states. Grynkewich pointed to Denmark and Germany as countries that increased support for Ukraine after facing hybrid attacks on their own territory. In September 2026, Germany officially attributed to Russia an attempted attack on Leipzig airport, in which a drone equipped with explosives was reportedly involved. European officials warn that Russia could be ready to attack a NATO member by the end of the decade.