Europe pushes a bigger defense footprint to reshape NATO and temper U.S. influence

European leaders at Munich called for higher defense budgets and a reimagined NATO—NATO 3.0—aiming for strategic autonomy, a stronger European security industry, and a 100,000-strong rapid reaction force, while pledging continued Ukraine support and closer, but not decoupled, ties with the United States as both sides seek a more balanced yet firmly allied transatlantic partnership.