The Trump Administration has excluded the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states from an October meeting of a select working group within NATO. The Bergen Group brings together six European allies approved by the Pentagon, fueling fears that Washington is dividing NATO members into two camps: „the good” and „the bad.”
The Trump Administration has excluded several key NATO allies, including the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states, from a meeting scheduled for October in Poland to discuss the future of the Alliance, as reported by Politico.
The event, coordinated by the Pentagon, is organized by Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy, and will bring together a select group of NATO member countries, according to six diplomats familiar with the planning, as cited by the publication.
The countries invited to participate are Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Colby has previously organized two similar meetings with representatives from these states under a format known as the "Bergen Group."
The exclusion of the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) has raised questions, as these countries are among the most active contributors to NATO's defense efforts and play an essential role in deterring Russian aggression in Europe.
"We are doing everything we are asked. We are trying to understand what the criteria are and what the purpose of these meetings is. We have not received too much information so far," an official from one of the excluded countries told Politico.
The White House did not respond to the publication's request for comment, and the Pentagon declined to provide comments.
Pentagon Divides NATO into Two Camps
Colby previously described the participants as NATO members who quickly fulfill their defense spending commitments, possess significant military capability, and are ready to focus on practical decisions.
A diplomat from a participating country stated that the purpose of the Bergen Group was not to undermine NATO. Instead, it is anticipated that members will develop proposals that can subsequently be tested and discussed by the entire Alliance. "This can be a driver of transformation for NATO," the diplomat said.
However, even some of the invited countries have expressed puzzlement about why Washington selected certain participants while excluding significant European military powers at the same time.
"If they are trying to divide NATO into 'good' and 'bad' camps, this is dangerous for the U.S. But for Europe, it is an existential issue," another diplomat said.
Denmark could be the next country invited to join the group, following an agreement that allows the U.S. to expand its military presence in Greenland, according to a person familiar with the planning.
Trump Increases Pressure on Allies
The U.S. decision to exclude key allies from the Bergen Group meeting follows repeated threats from President Trump and senior U.S. officials to reward those described as "model allies" while penalizing countries that oppose U.S. priorities.
Trump criticized NATO member states for defense spending and for refusing to support the U.S. war against Iran.
His administration had previously considered compiling a list of allies – described by officials as a list of the "well-behaved" and the "naughty" – based on how they comply with Washington's requests, Politico reported in April.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that countries supporting U.S. interests will be treated as model partners, while those that do not may face consequences.
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