Senior NATO military officials met in Brussels on Thursday to coordinate ahead of next month’s summit, where alliance leaders are expected to focus on defense readiness and burden-sharing. The meeting comes as European members continue expanding military budgets amid rising concern over long-term security guarantees from the United States.

The talks reflect a broader shift inside the alliance, with several European governments under pressure to strengthen their own forces after years of relying heavily on U.S. military support. Officials have warned that the security environment has become more unpredictable, pushing allies to accelerate spending and improve coordination.

The Brussels meeting was part of the buildup to summit discussions on strategy, military capability, and commitments among members. While NATO leaders remain publicly committed to collective defense, the debate over how much each country should contribute has sharpened as geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over future U.S. policy continue to shape European planning.

For European capitals, the message is increasingly clear: greater investment in defense is no longer optional. The challenge now is whether allies can turn higher budgets into faster procurement, stronger readiness, and a more credible deterrent posture.