On Wednesday, the U.S. publication Politico wrote that the United States will leave several allies, including the Baltic states, out of next month's gathering of NATO members that will discuss the future of the alliance. 

When ERR asked ministries for confirmation regarding the claims made in the article, the response was that allies consult with each other continuously in different formats. It was also said that in NATO, in addition to official formats, there are various groupings among allies where security and defense issues are discussed. 

Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that this is not an official NATO meeting. 

"The format that began in Bergen at the initiative of the United States is not a NATO meeting," Michal said. "It has been held in different formats, with participation from defense ministers, foreign ministers, and ambassadors, but NATO decisions are made at the NATO working level." 

According to Michal, the JEF format is important for Estonia. "We also communicate in the North‑Baltic region, which is outside NATO but still largely includes an allied format," he added. 

Defense Minister Martin Herem noted that if Scandinavian countries are invited to the meeting, then they are also interested in standing up for Estonia's interests. "In all this Baltic Sea security issue, they cannot manage without our security. Therefore, they cannot leave our interests aside there in any way," Herem said. 

According to six diplomats familiar with preparations for the event, the planned meeting in Poland, led by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, is essentially a working group focused on NATO's future.

Reportedly, the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states will be left out of the meeting. 

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