Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's policy chief, is organizing a limited working group in Poland next month to redefine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's long-term goals. The restricted assembly, called the "Bergen Group," includes the US, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands, but leaves out major members such as the UK, France, and the Baltic states. Denmark may join the group following an agreement to expand the American military presence in Greenland.

The decision to sideline some of Europe's largest defense spenders, including the alliance's only two nuclear-armed nations, follows threats from the Trump administration to use a "naughty and nice list" against allies that do not align with US priorities. While the Pentagon states the group will develop ideas to eventually strengthen the wider alliance, six diplomats cited by Politico indicate that criteria for membership remain unclear to the snubbed countries.