US Secretary of Defense to embark on European tour to strengthen alliances

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will depart the nation's capital on February 10 for a week-long diplomatic and strategic visit to Germany, Belgium, and Poland. 

The trip aims to bolster deterrence measures, support U.S. service members, and advance national security objectives through engagements with American and Allied leaders, Caliber.Az reports, citing the U.S. Department of Defense.

Hegseth’s first stop will be Germany, where he is set to visit U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters. He will meet with senior military officials to receive operational updates and assess ongoing missions in both theatres. Additionally, he will engage with U.S. troops stationed in Germany, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to their mission readiness and well-being.

Following his engagements in Germany, the Secretary will travel to Brussels, Belgium, to attend the NATO Defense Ministerial and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting. This will be his inaugural participation in the NATO Ministerial alongside Allied counterparts, where discussions will focus on boosting defence spending, increasing European leadership, and expanding defence industrial capacities on both sides of the Atlantic. At the UDCG, chaired for the first time by the United Kingdom, Hegseth will emphasize President Trump’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine while urging European nations to take on greater responsibility in security assistance to Kyiv.

Concluding his European tour, Hegseth will visit Poland, a key NATO ally, to meet with senior Polish officials. Talks will centre on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing deterrence along NATO’s eastern flank, and recognizing Poland’s role as a model ally in defence investment and burden-sharing. He will also visit U.S. troops stationed in Poland to discuss their strategic role in regional security.

“Throughout this trip, Secretary Hegseth will emphasize the importance of strengthening alliances, increasing defence readiness, and ensuring that American warfighters remain the most lethal force in the world by demonstrating peace through strength,” the State Department said.

By Vugar Khalilov