US Defense Secretary Skips Ukraine Aid Meeting in Brussels

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels for the first time since its creation in 2022, marking a significant shift in U.S. involvement in the coordination of military aid to Ukraine. Hegseth’s absence, attributed to scheduling conflicts, is part of a broader trend of the U.S. distancing itself from the Ukraine war effort, with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker attending in his place. The group, established by Hegseth's predecessor Lloyd Austin, includes over 50 countries that have collectively provided approximately $126 billion in military support to Ukraine, with the U.S. contributing more than $66.5 billion. Leadership of the Contact Group has shifted to the U.K. and Germany since February, and Hegseth attended only virtually last month. This development coincides with concerns from NATO allies like France about potential U.S. troop withdrawals from Europe and the implications for credibility in deterring other global conflicts. Hegseth is still expected to participate in the subsequent NATO defense ministers’ meeting, while President Trump and European leaders prepare for the upcoming NATO summit later in June.