US defence chief calls for “NATO 3.0” transformation

The United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called for a reboot of the 32-nation organisation to turn it into a “NATO 3.0” capable of deterring any threat.

Speaking at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, he said “NATO 2.0” is commonly considered to have emerged after the end of the Cold War, while Washington now seeks to transform the alliance into “NATO 3.0”, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

During the meeting he announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe that will depend on how fast they take responsibility for their own security.

“The review will be conducted based on input from US and European commands and will include consultations with the US Congress and our allies,” he noted.

According to him, it will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe.

Hegseth strongly criticised European allies for not granting U.S. forces access to military bases in Europe for strikes against Iran, describing the decision as “shameful.”

“These allies, they put America’s sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question at all,” he said.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov