U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (R) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House on December 02, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Questions have swirled about what the administration's Taiwan policy will look like, as the White House pushes for an "America First" diplomatic approach.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani greet each other before participating in an official bilateral meeting in Japan on Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Brandi Vincent)
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun conduct a joint press briefing at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Oct. 30, 2024. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech)
Security fencing set up outside the Washington convention center where the NATO summit will be taking place in Washington, DC, from July 9th to the 11th. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Leading up to this week's NATO summit in Washington, senior U.S. officials previewed leaders’ schedules and reflected on the historical context of this gathering.
