Overview
- With Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth absent, Under Secretary Elbridge Colby told ministers in Brussels that Europe must take primary responsibility for defending the continent as the U.S. focuses its limited conventional role.
- NATO unveiled Arctic Sentry to coordinate High North activities, addressing security concerns after the Greenland dispute and countering Russian and Chinese activity.
- The alliance confirmed that two senior regional command posts will shift from U.S. leadership to Britain and Italy, reflecting a move toward greater European responsibility.
- Allies were pressed to file credible near‑term spending plans toward the 5% of GDP by 2035 goal, with U.S. officials rejecting back‑loaded “hockey stick” budgets ahead of the Ankara summit.
- The UK announced an extra £500 million for Ukraine’s air defense and joined the U.S.-led PURL mechanism, as partners channel funds to procure American systems for Kyiv.