The Joint Committee on National Security of the British Parliament has called on the UK government and European allies to seriously prepare for a “worst-case scenario” in which the United States would not come to Europe’s aid in the event of a crisis.
In the report, lawmakers emphasize that London needs to move away from excessive dependence on its bilateral relationship with Washington, particularly in the areas of nuclear deterrence, intelligence, and conventional armed forces. The Committee recommends developing a plan to transition toward a greater European role within NATO, including strengthening the defense capabilities of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other partners.
“We must plan for a transition to greater European leadership within NATO and invest in our own capabilities to compensate for the potential withdrawal of American support,” the committee’s conclusions state.
This statement reflects growing concern across Europe against the backdrop of statements by US President Donald Trump and the broader reorientation of American policy. Previously, the House of Commons Defence Committee had already noted that the United Kingdom and European NATO members are “overly reliant on the US” and are not investing sufficiently in critical “strategic enablers” — intelligence, logistics, air defense, long-range strike capabilities, and so on. MPs warned that the country is “far from ready” to repel a serious military threat — including a possible Russian offensive — either independently or in a European format.
Experts note that in the event of a full or partial US withdrawal from European defense, Europe would need to significantly increase troop numbers, ammunition production, and investment in the defense industry. By some estimates, hundreds of thousands of additional military personnel and a substantial increase in defense spending could be required.
For now, official London continues to stress that the United States remains an “indispensable ally,” but parliamentary committees are increasingly insisting on preparing for a scenario in which Europe will have to rely primarily on itself.