3 October 2026
The Pentagon is bringing together a select group of NATO allies while Britain, France and the Baltic states have been left out.
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has held talks with Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Finland, describing the participants as allies that are increasing defence spending, have sufficient military scale and are prepared to make practical decisions. Another meeting is planned in Poland.
So what is Washington trying to achieve? Why exclude two of Europe's nuclear powers and the Baltic states? And could closer cooperation with a smaller group eventually affect US military planning, weapons or forces in Europe?
Jim Townsend, Adjunct Senior Fellow in the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security and a former Pentagon official, joins The Day to examine Elbridge Colby's strategy and what it could mean for NATO. #dwcurrentaffairs
