Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is set to embark on a week-long trip to Europe, beginning February 10, 2025. His itinerary includes visits to Germany, Belgium, and Poland, where he will engage with U.S. and Allied leaders to discuss strengthening deterrence, supporting warfighters, and advancing America's national security interests.
The first stop in Germany will involve meetings at the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters. Secretary Hegseth plans to meet senior military leaders for updates on operations in both theaters. He will also connect with U.S. service members stationed in Germany to reaffirm the administration’s commitment to their mission.
Following his visit to Germany, Secretary Hegseth will head to Brussels, Belgium. There, he will attend the NATO Defense Ministerial and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting. At this first NATO Ministerial with Allied counterparts, discussions will focus on boosting defense spending among Allies, increasing European leadership, and expanding defense industrial base capacity across the Atlantic. During the UDCG meeting chaired by the United Kingdom, he intends to "reiterate President Trump’s commitment for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible" and emphasize "the need for increased European leadership on security assistance to Ukraine."
The final destination of his trip is Poland. Meetings with Polish leaders will cover bilateral defense cooperation and continued deterrence efforts along NATO’s eastern flank. Discussions will also highlight Poland's role as a model ally in defense investment within NATO. Additionally, Secretary Hegseth will meet with U.S. troops stationed in Poland.
Throughout his journey, Secretary Hegseth aims to underscore "the importance of strengthening alliances," enhancing defense readiness, and ensuring American warfighters remain effective through "peace through strength."