Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has decided not to attend a key meeting of NATO defense ministers on February 12, 2026. Instead, the American delegation will be led by Elbridge Colby, Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy and a well-known proponent of reducing the US military presence in Europe, which is causing serious concern among Alliance allies. This was reported by Politico, writes UNN.
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Hegseth's absence from the summit will be the second consecutive time that top officials of the Trump administration have ignored high-level NATO events, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The choice of Elbridge Colby as the US representative is indicative, as he is the author of a new defense strategy that officially lowered the priority of defending Europe.
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According to this document, Washington will focus on defending its own borders and confronting China, while European countries should "take the initiative" in deterring Russia.
This is not the first time Hegseth has missed a NATO meeting. But this is the second time in a row that a high-ranking US official has missed a high-level meeting after Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly sent his deputy last month.
Experts point out that such a step risks sending a signal that the US no longer considers allies' concerns a priority.
Troop withdrawal plan and Elbridge Colby's role
Elbridge Colby, considered a close ally of Vice President J. D. Vance, is currently responsible for developing plans for the withdrawal of the American contingent from the European continent. His presence in Brussels will allow allies to hear direct arguments regarding Washington's new isolationist policy. At the same time, in the US National Security Strategy itself, the terminology regarding the main threats was somewhat softened at the insistence of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, so as not to harm ongoing trade negotiations with Beijing.