European allies should strengthen NATO’s Indo-Pacific ties as Washington wavers.
The much-anticipated NATO summit in The Hague in late June accomplished its core objectives: securing a 5 percent defense pledge, managing U.S. President Donald Trump, and reaffirming a commitment to collective security. But the summit also drew criticism for sidestepping or neglecting hard questions.
Among the hard but crucial questions left unaddressed was NATO’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific. Forging deeper relations with the alliance’s regional partners, known as the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4)—Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea—will be critical to NATO’s ability to counter growing cross-regional threats to Euro-Atlantic security. Absent refocused attention, these relationships risk being undermined by unconstructive and erratic U.S. policy.