US demands European allies prove they can lead their own defence in pointed Nato policy review

The United States has sent European Nato allies a pointed questionnaire assessing their political loyalty to the alliance, raising alarm across the continent about Washington's commitment to collective defence. The move signals Trump is actively auditing which partners he considers reliable before any future security decisions. It comes as transatlantic tensions over defence spending and Ukraine policy remain at boiling point. The questionnaire's contents have not been fully disclosed publicly.

European governments are understood to have received the questionnaire directly from the US, framing allegiance in stark terms.

The timing raises fears Trump could use the responses to justify withdrawing support from allies deemed insufficiently loyal.

The move represents one of the most direct challenges to Nato unity since Trump returned to the White House.