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The Pentagon has requested that the UK military concentrate more on Europe and less on Asia, marking a significant policy shift from the Biden administration. Previously, the European allies were encouraged to enhance their presence in the Indo-Pacific to send a firm message to China. Elbridge Colby, US under-secretary of defense for policy, conveyed to British officials that the Trump administration favors increased UK military focus on the Euro-Atlantic region. This information comes from five individuals familiar with the situation.
Colby, a senior official at the Pentagon, expressed concerns about the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier’s deployment, which involves time in the Indo-Pacific. He has consistently maintained that European nations should assume greater responsibility for their regional security, especially regarding the conflict in Ukraine, freeing up the US military to concentrate more on China and the Indo-Pacific.
This approach is a complete reversal from the Biden administration’s stance, which advocated for a stronger European military presence in Asia to counter aggressive Chinese military actions in the region, potentially deterring President Xi Jinping from initiating an attack on Taiwan.
Recently, European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, have sent warships through the South China Sea, despite objections from Beijing. In 2021, the Pentagon labeled the deployment of the UK’s Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific as “historic.”
During the Biden administration, Kurt Campbell emphasized that linking the Atlantic and Pacific theatres was crucial. However, Zack Cooper, an Asia security expert, noted that the Trump administration’s new policy suggests a potential decoupling of these regions, possibly raising concerns among allies about sustained US regional engagement.
The new strategy emerges as Beijing seeks to improve relations with Europe, countering past US efforts to enlist European countries against China. A source familiar with the issue indicated that the UK has been active globally, working closely with the US on Euro-Atlantic priorities, while also considering its interests in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.
US military officers generally welcome an increased European presence in the Pacific. However, the Trump administration’s civilian policy team at the Pentagon prefers focusing on home regions. Colby recently emphasized the importance of increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP for Europe. He also suggested that Japan and Taiwan should raise their defense expenditures beyond their current targets.
Eric Sayers, an Asia security expert, highlighted that Europe’s limited military power necessitates a focus on the European subcontinent and the threat from Russia, rather than spreading resources thinly in Asia. Critics argue that growing cooperation among Iran, Russia, North Korea, and China requires the US to seek assistance from allies beyond their traditional regions.
An official from an Indo-Pacific country stated that security in different regions is increasingly interconnected due to emerging global authoritarian alliances. The British defense ministry confirmed it is coordinating with US and Indo-Pacific allies regarding upcoming exercises with HMS Prince of Wales. The Pentagon has declined to comment.
