US to discuss with NATO the revision of military presence in Europe and Patriot for Ukraine - media

The visit of US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby to NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, August 27, is related to US intentions to review its military presence in Europe – but the issue of providing Ukraine with interceptor missiles for Patriot systems also has prospects for discussion. This became known from sources in NATO and diplomatic circles, according to Європейська правда.

The main topic of the visit of US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby to NATO on August 27 is discussion of the presence of US troops on the European continent, but the issue of military assistance to Ukraine may also arise during the discussions.

"The United States is conducting consultations with allies as part of reviewing the disposition and structure of its forces. The US Deputy Secretary of War for Policy will participate in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council tomorrow as part of these ongoing consultations", – a NATO official reported to a correspondent of "EuroPravda".

Sources of "European Pravda" in diplomatic circles in Brussels also confirmed that the main purpose of the North Atlantic Council meeting on August 27 is precisely to discuss the review of the disposition and structure of US forces in Europe.

Nevertheless, according to NATO diplomats, the topic of Ukraine may be raised during the discussion with the American official.

In particular, as it became known to "EuroPravda", on Wednesday, August 26, another meeting of the North Atlantic Council took place at the level of NATO ambassadors, which specifically touched on Ukrainian issues.

The need to urgently provide Ukraine with more military assistance was discussed – in particular PAC-3 missiles and Patriot systems, which it currently needs the most.

Financial assistance to Ukraine was also discussed, in particular, to close the deficit of Ukraine's defense budget.

Early reported, on August 27, US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby will be visiting NATO headquarters in Brussels.

We remind you that the US Department of Defense is currently continuing its review of its military presence in Europe, which may pave the way for a reduction of American troops on the continent.

It should be noted that on the eve it became known about the visit to Moscow of CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who, according to some data, warned Russian officials that Russia should not escalate the conflict with US NATO allies, in particular with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.