Ukraine Allies Convene as Pentagon Chief Misses Meeting

    0
    0

    In Brussels, senior representatives from nearly 50 nations convened to discuss the provision of additional weapons and ammunition to support Ukraine. This assembly marks the first occasion where the head of the Pentagon is absent since the group responsible for coordinating military support was established three years ago.

    The Ukraine Defense Contact Group met at NATO’s headquarters, with the United Kingdom and Germany taking the lead in organizing the session. It was noted that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was not present and would only arrive in Brussels once the meeting concluded. Hegseth is expected to join the NATO defense ministers’ discussions scheduled for Thursday.

    This development is part of a broader movement by Washington to distance itself somewhat from Ukraine’s efforts in countering Russia’s full-scale invasion, which commenced on February 24, 2022. The United Nations estimates that the conflict has resulted in the loss of more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilian lives and tens of thousands of soldiers from both the Ukrainian and Russian sides.

    Ahead of the gathering, the United Kingdom announced an ambitious plan to boost drone production significantly, aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Drones have become pivotal in the conflict, which is now in its fourth year. UK Defense Secretary John Healey emphasized how British companies are applying combat insights to innovate advanced drones, aiming to protect Ukrainian civilians while simultaneously bolstering the UK’s national security.

    The predecessor of Hegseth, Lloyd Austin, was instrumental in creating the Ukraine Defense Contact Group following Russia’s aggressive actions in 2022. This collaboration among Ukraine’s supporters has led to an approximate total of $126 billion in weapons and military aid, with the United States contributing more than $66.5 billion.

    Since the Trump administration assumed office in January, the U.S. has stepped back from chairing meetings of this group. This shift has raised concerns among European NATO allies, who worry the U.S. may reallocate its military presence from Europe to focus more on the Indo-Pacific region. French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned that abandoning support for Ukraine could potentially undermine the U.S.’s credibility in deterring conflicts involving China, particularly regarding Taiwan.