Pentagon excludes UK, France, Baltics from NATO meeting in Poland

October 1, 2026 at 10:05 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The Pentagon has excluded several major European allies, including the UK, France and the Baltic states, from a NATO-focused meeting next month in Poland. The meeting, initiated by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, is described as a working group on NATO's future. Diplomats from excluded countries question whether the US administration is showing bias that could further divide the alliance.

Key Facts

The Pentagon excluded the UK, France and the Baltic states from a NATO meeting scheduled for next month in Poland.
The meeting was initiated by Elbridge Colby, head of the Pentagon's policy office, and is described as a working group focused on NATO's future.
Six diplomats said the excluded countries spend heavily on defense and play key roles in the alliance.
A representative of one excluded ally said: "We are doing everything required of us. We are trying to understand what the criteria are and what the purpose of these meetings is. We have been told little so far."

Meeting Details

The Pentagon excluded several major US allies from a NATO meeting scheduled for next month in Poland. The meeting was initiated by Elbridge Colby, head of the Pentagon's policy office, and is described as a working group focused on NATO's future. The UK, France and the Baltic states were among those not invited, according to Politico.

Allied Reaction

Diplomats from excluded countries question whether the US administration is showing bias that could further divide the alliance. A representative of one excluded ally said: "We are doing everything required of us. We are trying to understand what the criteria are and what the purpose of these meetings is. We have been told little so far." The excluded countries spend heavily on defense and play key roles in the alliance, according to six diplomats.