Pentagon calls on NATO to increase defence spending

The United States will continue to urge NATO allies to increase defence spending both publicly and in private discussions, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Hegseth noted that many commitments were made at the NATO summit in The Hague, and while several countries are following through, others still need to do more.

“We will be candid about that both in private and in public. I think that's important. Friends being honest with friends, making sure that they can step up,” he said, stressing the importance of strengthening military budgets across the alliance.

Hegseth added that NATO must return to being a “true military alliance with a hard edge,” emphasising that the bloc should focus on conventional defence capabilities and deterrence in Europe.

He also praised NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Donald Trump, and allied governments for what he described as efforts toward a “NATO 3.0” adapted to post–Cold War realities.

“Secretary General [of the alliance Mark Rutte] has done a fantastic job leading the way, working with us, working with President Trump, working with NATO to get to NATO 3.0. NATO 3.0 0 is postcold war recognition that it needs to go back to a real hardline military alliance that has real military capabilities capable of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defence of Europe,” Hegseth noted.

By Jeyhun Aghazada