(Illustrative photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)

Transferring conventional defense capacity from the US to Europe marks a significant shift in Washington’s approach to its key military allies.

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said the US has been very clear in the need for Europeans to lead in the conventional defense of Europe. It’s committed to working through NATO coordination mechanisms to strengthen the alliance and ensure its long-term viability as European allies increasingly take on responsibility for conventional deterrence and defense in Europe.

In the newly released US national security strategy, Washington urges its European allies to assume responsibility for conventional defense, while the US plays a more limited role in the continent’s security, primarily focusing on nuclear deterrence.