The United States has asked Europe to take on the vast majority of NATO’s conventional defense capabilities by 2027, in order to reduce its own involvement in the Alliance’s defense cooperation, according to sources cited by Reuters.

The U.S. proposal for Europe to assume greater responsibility for NATO’s conventional defense by 2027 has raised concerns among European officials, who consider the deadline unrealistic. Washington’s desire for greater European defense autonomy was presented at a meeting in Washington, where Pentagon officials stated that Europe’s progress in strengthening its defense capabilities since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not satisfied the United States.

According to five sources who spoke to Reuters, Pentagon officials warned that if Europe does not meet the 2027 deadline, the United States may stop participating in certain NATO defense coordination mechanisms.

The U.S. wants European countries to take greater responsibility for their own security and reduce their dependence on American defense support. However, several European officials say that the 2027 deadline is unrealistic, as Europe needs more resources to replace some of the U.S. defense capabilities.

NATO allies also face delays in military equipment production, and some of the most advanced American weapons and defense systems would take years to be delivered if ordered today. At the same time, the U.S. provides capabilities that cannot simply be purchased, such as unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets, which have proven critical to Ukraine’s war efforts.

A NATO official speaking about the Alliance said that European allies have begun taking on more responsibility for the continent’s security, but did not comment on the 2027 deadline. “Allies have recognized the need to invest more in defense and shift the burden of conventional defense from the U.S. to Europe,” the official said.

The European Union has set a goal to make the continent capable of defending itself by 2030, focusing on strengthening air defense, drones, cyber warfare capabilities, and other areas. Officials and analysts note that even this deadline is extremely ambitious.