On June 5, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a joint statement at the NATO Defense Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, Belgium. The meeting addressed spending commitments and the need for increased defense capabilities among NATO allies.
Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the necessity of increasing defense budgets to meet capability targets, highlighting a need for equal spending among Canada, Europe, and the United States. "There has been a total commitment by the US to NATO, but also this expectation that European and Canadian allies will step up spending," he stated.
Rutte expressed gratitude towards the US leadership in efforts related to Ukraine, mentioning engagements with President Putin as crucial steps toward peace. "Thank you for being here. Thank you for your leadership and thank you for being such a staunch ally," Rutte said.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth acknowledged Secretary General Rutte's leadership amidst diverse perspectives within NATO. He extended thanks to Matt Whitaker, the US ambassador to NATO, for his representation of American interests. Hegseth credited former President Trump with reinforcing NATO's alliance through increased budget commitments from member countries.
Hegseth stressed that all NATO members must contribute equally to collective defense efforts: "Every country has to contribute at that level of 5 percent as a recognition of the nature of the threat." He highlighted the importance of hard power over reliance on American capabilities alone.
Hegseth concluded by reiterating America's commitment to standing with its allies while calling for increased contributions from them. "We’re going to be talking to all of our allies...that 5 percent is where we need to be considering the threats we face in the world today," he stated.