Pentagon circulates loyalty questionnaire to 31 NATO allies

The U.S. Department of Defense has circulated a questionnaire to the defense ministries of 31 NATO member states, seeking responses that the Pentagon says will help assess each ally’s “loyalty” to the United States. The survey, distributed through official diplomatic channels earlier this month, asks participating nations to evaluate their commitment to U.S.-led security initiatives, willingness to share intelligence, and alignment with American strategic priorities in Europe and beyond. The Pentagon described the effort as a routine “readiness and partnership assessment” intended to inform future planning and resource allocation within the alliance.

Reactions among NATO partners have been mixed. Several European governments have expressed concern that the questionnaire could undermine the principle of collective decision‑making that underpins the alliance, while others have indicated willingness to provide the requested information as part of ongoing cooperation. Analysts note that the move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and ongoing debates within NATO about defense spending and burden‑sharing. The Pentagon has said it will compile the results and share a summary with alliance leadership, emphasizing that the exercise is aimed at strengthening, not fracturing, transatlantic ties.