U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, emphasized the importance of allies taking on more responsibility within the alliance. According to Jin10, Smith stated that any initiative encouraging allies to step up and assume greater leadership roles is considered positive. This statement underscores the ongoing efforts to strengthen NATO's collective defense and ensure a balanced distribution of responsibilities among member nations. The call for increased leadership comes amid evolving global security challenges, highlighting the need for a unified and proactive approach within the alliance.