BRUSSELS — European allies at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Thursday sought to reassure the transatlantic alliance and the wider world that the United States remains a committed partner, even as senior U.S. officials miss key meetings and Washington’s focus shifts toward new strategic priorities.
At NATO headquarters in Brussels, defense ministers from the alliance’s 32 members convened amid heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe — particularly Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine — but the absence of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth drew attention. Hegseth’s decision not to attend the meeting marked the second consecutive session of the North Atlantic Council’s ministerial level that a top Trump administration official skipped, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s absence from the foreign ministers’ meeting in December.
Hegseth’s seat was filled by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon policy chief, who took the floor as Washington’s representative. Colby used the platform to emphasize a vision for NATO rooted in partnership rather than dependency, underscoring continued American support for the alliance while urging European members to enhance their own defense capabilities.
Despite the unusual absences, many NATO delegations publicly downplayed concerns over U.S. leadership gaps. European ministers stressed that alliance cohesion and collective defense remain central to security in the face of Russia’s aggression.
“It’s always better when all ministers are here, but I would not describe it as a bad signal,” Iceland’s Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir told reporters, capturing the general diplomatic tone. German and Dutch defense leaders echoed sentiments of understanding rather than alarm, noting that international schedules and a broad range of global issues inevitably stretch U.S. commitments.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte similarly sought to reassure allies, saying Washington’s absence was “understandable” given America’s global obligations and that Washington remains “fully committed to NATO.”
Still, behind guarded diplomacy, unease persists among some capitals about what these patterns mean for the alliance’s future direction.
Europe and Canada Step Up
In Washington’s stead, Canada, the United Kingdom, and several European nations — already increasing their defense spending under NATO targets — took visible steps to signal strength and solidarity.
The United Kingdom announced a fresh £540 million weapons package for Ukraine, expanding support for Kyiv’s air defenses and reinforcing NATO’s role in backing Ukraine’s resistance to Russian assaults.
European capitals also stressed the need for increased defense production and investments, part of a broader shift toward deeper self-reliance that NATO members agreed to pursue after years of calls for burden-sharing. Many allies are accelerating plans to raise defense budgets toward NATO’s ambitious 5 % GDP spending goal.
A Strategic Pivot, Not an Abandonment
Analysts say the current dynamic reflects a strategic pivot rather than abandonment. The Trump administration has signaled a desire to reframe NATO’s mission: maintaining deterrence and collective defense of Europe while encouraging allies to take on more conventional defense responsibilities. This includes rebalancing NATO’s structure and operational leadership in some areas.
“It’s about partnership, not dependency,” Colby told ministers, urging pragmatic cooperation even as Washington’s military focus broadens to other theaters, including Indo-Pacific challenges.
Allies and NATO leadership have sought to align on this evolving approach, underscoring shared commitments even as priorities shift.
Bottom Line: Thursday’s NATO meeting demonstrated the alliance’s resilience in the face of shifting U.S. engagement. European and Canadian partners showcased increased leadership on defense, while NATO officials balanced reassurance with calls for greater burden-sharing and deeper cooperation to meet common security threats.
