Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, shared a series of posts on July 30, 2025, discussing shifts in American foreign policy and recent developments within NATO.

In his first post, Schmitt stated, "For decades, American foreign policy was driven by an arrogant fantasy: that we could—and should—remake the world in our own image. That era is over. President Trump is unapologetically using American power—economic, diplomatic and military—to advance AMERICAN interests." (July 30, 2025).

He continued in a second post to highlight broader changes in global diplomacy and referenced Elbridge Colby’s influence: "This foreign policy reset isn’t just happening in Europe. It’s happening across the globe—driven by conservative foreign policy realists like Elbridge Colby. Bridge has spent the past two decades asking the hard questions that the foreign policy elite has studiously avoided." (July 30, 2025).

In a third post regarding NATO defense spending commitments, Schmitt wrote: "In 2017, only 3 NATO countries met the 2% defense spending benchmark they agreed to in 2014. At the 2025 NATO Summit, every NATO ally committed to boost spending to 5%—a huge shift. Why? Because Trump made it clear that America wouldn’t keep carrying the burden." (July 30, 2025).

NATO allies had previously set a goal for member nations to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defense by 2024; however, only a minority achieved this target as of several years ago. The recent commitment cited by Schmitt represents a significant increase from previous benchmarks and follows ongoing debates about equitable defense contributions among alliance members.

Elbridge Colby is recognized for his role as a leading advocate for realist approaches in U.S. national security strategy over the past twenty years.