On Thursday, February 12, NATO defense ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss key issues concerning European defense and support for Ukraine. As the United States adjusts its strategic focus, European allies are preparing to take on more defense responsibilities.
This meeting was called following NATO’s announcement of increased deployments in the Arctic and surrounding regions. The military operation named “Arctic Sentinel” is in response to escalating military activities by China and Russia in the Arctic region. It is seen as NATO’s demonstration of its collective defense capabilities and emphasis on Arctic security, especially towards the Trump administration.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not personally attend the NATO Defense Ministers’ meeting; Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby attended in his place. Colby is a key architect of the new US defense strategy and a prominent advocate of “reducing troops stationed in Europe.”
Prior to the meeting, Colby stated that increased military spending by European countries and Canada will make NATO allies more equal partners within the alliance.
“In 2025, we saw a true commitment: Europe leading NATO’s conventional defense,” he said.
“Now is the time for us to move forward together and take practical action. Our cooperation in partnership is solid and can build a NATO based on partnership rather than dependence,” Colby said. “This is a return to the original purpose of NATO.”
Regarding support for Ukraine, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who took office in January, attended the meeting for the first time. After the meeting, Germany and the UK will jointly host a core allies meeting aiming to raise new commitments for military aid.
Regarding funding to enhance European defense capabilities, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas proposed in an interview on Wednesday, February 11, that the EU should support defense spending through issuing “common debt.”
She emphasized, “Common borrowing will lower the cost of borrowing for all EU member countries.”
Kallas pointed out that Europe is once again facing threats that impact the entire continent, similar to the background of the EU adopting a common debt mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel supported this idea and believed that the new EU common borrowing is “inevitable.”
He urged Germany not to play the role of “fiscal-policy Taliban” in Europe, referring to extreme conservatives and rigid elements. Gabriel noted, “While borrowing is costly and risky, the presence of the Russian army at the Polish border poses greater risks and higher costs.”
Gabriel added that given the current security situation, the urgency of EU action increases month by month, and action should not be postponed until threats are imminent.
These discussions on a series of defense, financial, and security issues are expected to continue at the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Germany, scheduled to take place until Friday.