Full Committee Hearing: FY27 EUCOM Posture Hearing

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee held a full committee posture hearing on March 19, 2026, focusing on the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and related defense issues. Key topics included the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO's role and burden sharing, and U.S. military presence in Europe. Witnesses, including Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel Zimmerman and General Alexis Grinkovich, discussed the importance of maintaining and potentially expanding U.S. forces in Europe, particularly the two rotational armored brigades in Poland, which are seen as critical to NATO's deterrence posture. The hearing emphasized the need for European allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and to develop their defense industrial bases to assume greater responsibility for their own security. The committee also addressed procurement challenges, including delays in foreign military sales and the need to streamline arms transfers to allies. Discussions covered the strategic importance of bases in Romania and the Baltic states, the impact of sanctions on Russia, and the integration of lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict into U.S. and allied military capabilities. Several members expressed concern over recent U.S. policy decisions, such as easing sanctions on Russian oil and the tone of U.S. leadership toward NATO allies, highlighting the potential negative effects on alliance cohesion and military readiness. The hearing concluded with recognition of the need for continued bipartisan support for NATO and Ukraine, and a classified session was scheduled to follow for more detailed discussions.