US EditionUPDATE 2-Hegseth Expected to Follow Rubio in Skipping NATO Ministers' Meeting, Sources Say
Hegseth’s absence marks the second consecutive U.S. Cabinet secretary to skip NATO meetings amid a shift to new U.S. military priorities outlined in the National Defense Strategy.
- On Jan 29, Reuters reported U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not expected to attend the Feb 12 NATO defence ministers meeting at NATO headquarters, Brussels.
- Context: Until U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, skipping NATO ministerial meetings was rare; tensions over Greenland and shifting U.S. military priorities have strained ties with European allies.
- Diplomats said Elbridge Colby, Pentagon policy chief, is expected to attend in Hegseth’s place, and the Pentagon and NATO gave no immediate comment; the two sources did not cite any reason for his decision.
- A missed meeting would make Hegseth the second U.S. Cabinet secretary in a row to skip a NATO ministerial, following U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s absence in December.
- Allies warned the absence would send a bad signal, as Oana Lungescu cautioned during tense transatlantic relations, while the Trump administration's new military priorities expect Europe to assume more defence responsibilities.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Hegseth expected to follow Rubio in skipping NATO ministers' meeting, sources say
By Andrew Gray and Phil Stewart BRUSSELS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not expected to attend a NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels next month, two sources said,
UPDATE 2-Hegseth expected to follow Rubio in skipping NATO ministers' meeting, sources say
UPDATE 2-Hegseth expected to follow Rubio in skipping NATO ministers' meeting, sources say U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not expected to attend a NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels next month, two sources said, the second time in a row that a top Trump administration official skips a gathering of the military alliance. U.S. President Donald Trump has had a tense relationship with NATO and many of its other members, most recent…
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend the NATO defence ministers' meeting, organized in Brussels next month, announced two sources, being the second consecutive when an official of...
Hegseth expected to skip NATO ministers' meeting next month, sources say
BRUSSELS, Jan 29 - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not expected to attend a NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels next month, two sources said, the second time in a row a Trump administration official has skipped a gathering of the military alliance. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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