2026-10-02 08:10:12Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The US administration of Donald Trump has decided to exclude several major allies from a meeting of NATO members next month. The decision comes after previous threats to establish a "good and bad list" against governments that have violated the US president's priorities.

The planned meeting in Poland, led by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, is essentially a working group focused on the future of NATO, according to six diplomats familiar with the planning, Politico reports.

But many of the countries that did not receive an invitation – such as the United Kingdom, France and the Baltic states – spend heavily on defense and play key roles in the alliance, leaving their diplomats wondering why they are being blocked.

They question whether the administration is playing the role of favorite in a way that could further fragment an alliance already facing growing Russian aggression and dwindling weapons stocks.

"We are doing everything that is asked of us," said an official from an excluded ally. "We are trying to understand what the criteria are and what the purpose of these meetings is. We have not been given much information yet."

The White House did not respond to a request for comment, and the Pentagon declined to comment.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has supported this vision. He has encouraged “model allies” and warned that those who do not support US interests will suffer the consequences.

While details on the new NATO task force are still unclear, it comes after the threat of rewarding some at the expense of others.

Colby has held two similar meetings with guests from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands.

The US could add Denmark to the exclusive club next, given the agreement reached between the two countries to expand the US military footprint in Greenland, according to another person familiar with the planning.


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