Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes Munich Security Conference Special with Elbridge Colby
Feb 13, 2026
Elbridge Colby, senior U.S. defense official and strategist, discusses NATO 3.0 and why Europe must rebuild conventional forces. He explains flexible realism and America First priorities. Conversations cover Ukraine support limits, nuclear deterrence, managing Russia and China, Taiwan posture, and driving European rearmament and defense industry cooperation.
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Prioritize Partnerships With Model Allies
- The U.S. will prioritize partnerships with 'model' allies that increase capabilities and spending.
- This creates incentives for countries like Germany and Poland to be prioritized in cooperation.
Avoid Friendly Nuclear Proliferation
- Avoid encouraging new nuclear proliferation in Europe; independent arsenals are not desirable.
- Use reassurance carefully to spur allied investment without causing panic.
Resource Limits Shape Ukraine Support
- The administration acknowledges finite U.S. resources and pushes Europe to build stockpiles and production capacity.
- U.S. support for Ukraine is constrained by competing global demands and industrial limits.
