US tells Nato defence ministers to bolster military forces as White House plans to reduce troops in Europe

US policy chief Elbridge Colby said Europe has to go 'beyond inputs and intentions toward outputs and capabilities'

Nato's flag flying during a summit. In December, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, skipped a meeting of Nato foreign ministers and sent the deputy secretary Christopher Landau instead. After addressing counterparts in Brussels, Landau left the meeting early. File picture

The Pentagon’s policy chief, Elbridge Colby, has told European Nato defence ministers in Brussels that they need to step up their combat capabilities and take the lead in protecting their continent from the Russian threat.

The undersecretary for war, sent by the White House in place of his boss, Pete Hegseth, said the US would reduce conventional forces in Europe but insisted Washington remains committed to the military alliance.