Europe relies on the US less for money, and more for capabilities.

Within North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the US provides most of:

- Strategic airlift (moving large forces quickly)

- Aerial refueling

- Missile defense

- Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR)

- Command, control, and battle management

- Nuclear deterrence (via the US nuclear umbrella)

Europe can field armies, navies, and air forces, but large-scale, high-intensity war is much harder without the US.