Pentagon to not invite key allies to NATO meeting next month — Politico

According to anonymous sources cited by Politico, the Pentagon will not invite key NATO allies to a meeting in Poland next month. The meeting, led by Elbridge Colby, head of the Pentagon's policy office, is seen as a working group focused on the Alliance's future. However, this decision has left many countries questioning the reasons behind their exclusion.

Countries like the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states, which have substantial defense spending and play important roles in NATO, have expressed concerns over their omission. One uninvited country's representative stated that they are "trying to understand what the criteria is and what the purpose of these meetings are."

The White House and Pentagon have declined to comment on the matter. Colby, who initiated this initiative, previously held a similar meeting in Bergen, Norway, inviting six allies. This format, dubbed the Bergen Group, aims to develop proposals that will be submitted for consideration by all NATO countries. However, some invited countries are unhappy about not being included, particularly as many have met or exceeded defense-spending targets set by the Trump administration.

Colby has advocated for narrower formats among NATO countries, focusing on Germany's role in deterring Russia and deploying U.S. forces to counter China's growing influence. Despite this, even invited allies have questioned the selection process, pointing to the absence of the United Kingdom from the invite list despite its significant defense capabilities.

The White House has reportedly developed a system for dividing NATO member states into "good" and "bad" allies, aiming to influence partners that have refused to support Washington in its confrontation with Iran.