Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently addressed the NATO Defense Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, Belgium. He emphasized President Trump's goal for NATO countries to increase their defense spending to 5 percent, stating that many countries are already exceeding the previous target of 2 percent. Hegseth highlighted the importance of this commitment in light of global threats and urged European allies and Canada to enhance their contributions.
Hegseth noted, "We don’t need more flags; we need more fighting formations," emphasizing the need for real capabilities over symbolic gestures. He also mentioned that President Trump has committed $1 trillion to the U.S. defense budget, with a 13 percent increase in defense spending focused on capabilities.
When questioned about the UK's commitment, Hegseth expressed optimism: "Our friends in the UK, we’re going to get there." He reiterated that all NATO countries recognize the necessity of increased defense investments due to current security threats.
The Secretary dismissed discussions about withdrawing from NATO, instead focusing on how member countries are stepping up their commitments. He praised President Trump for revitalizing the alliance and pushing members towards higher spending.
Regarding timelines for achieving the 5 percent target, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that it is driven by security threats rather than by the United States: "Everybody’s on board... but I think there’s a serious commitment here."
On American military presence in Europe, Hegseth said it is essential to continuously assess force posture while considering global responsibilities: "America can’t be everywhere all the time, nor should we be."
Addressing concerns about support for Ukraine, both Hegseth and Whitaker confirmed ongoing U.S. involvement in related meetings and efforts led by British and German counterparts.