Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers a stark ultimatum to NATO allies: increase defense spending to 5% of GDP or face a future without America’s disproportionate support for European security.
Key Takeaways
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing NATO allies to increase defense spending from the current 2% to 5% of GDP
- Germany has committed to expanding its armed forces by up to 60,000 active soldiers to take on the second-largest burden among NATO’s 32 member states
- The Trump administration is emphasizing that allies cannot continue to rely solely on the United States for deterrence and security
- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged that allies need to spend significantly more to meet new military capability targets
- The increased spending aims to balance defense contributions between the U.S. and European partners while maintaining America’s commitment to NATO
America Demands NATO Self-Reliance
In a significant policy shift, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is calling for NATO allies to more than double their defense spending commitments. During a recent meeting with defense ministers in Brussels, Hegseth articulated the Trump administration’s expectation that NATO members increase their contributions from the current 2% GDP target to 5%. This dramatic escalation reflects President Trump’s longstanding criticism of NATO’s funding structure and his administration’s determination to rebalance defense responsibilities across the alliance.
“Our message is going to continue to be clear. It’s deterrence and peace through strength, but it can’t be relied on. It cannot and will not be reliant on America in a world of a lot of threats,” said Pete Hegseth, US Defense Secretary.
Germany Steps Up to NATO Challenge
In response to the increased pressure from Washington, Germany has announced plans to significantly expand its military capabilities. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed that Germany will boost its armed forces by as many as 60,000 active soldiers, positioning the country to take on the second-largest burden among NATO’s 32 member states. This dramatic military expansion represents a major shift in German defense policy, which has historically maintained relatively modest military spending since World War II.
“Germany’s defense chief said his country will need to boost its armed forces by as many as 60,000 active soldiers as NATO member states commit to ramping up defense spending to deter Russia’s military threat,” stated Germany’s defense chief.
“Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany would take on the second-largest burden among the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 32 member states as allies agree on a blueprint to re-arm,” said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Trump’s Vision for a Stronger NATO
Hegseth has been explicit in crediting President Trump with driving the transformation of NATO into a more balanced alliance. The administration’s demands for increased European defense spending represent a continuation of Trump’s first-term approach to international organizations, requiring allies to shoulder a greater share of collective security costs. The current push for 5% GDP spending on defense would represent a seismic shift in European budget priorities and military capabilities.
“I argue that no one has done more than President Donald Trump to redesign NATO as an alliance,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
While some NATO allies might view the 5% target as excessive, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has acknowledged that current spending levels are insufficient to meet the alliance’s defense needs. During the recent Brussels meeting, Rutte confirmed that allies would agree on new capability targets, including enhanced air defense systems, ground forces, long-range missiles, and command and control infrastructure. Formal decisions on these expanded capabilities are expected at the upcoming June summit in The Hague.
A New Era of Shared Responsibility
The message from Washington is unambiguous: European dependence on American military power must end. While the United States remains committed to NATO, the alliance’s European members can no longer expect American taxpayers to subsidize their security without substantial reciprocal investments. This shift reflects both strategic reality and fiscal necessity as America balances its commitments across multiple global theaters, from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East and Europe.
“The United States is proud to stand with our allies, but our message will continue to be clear. Deterrence and peace through strength, yes, but this cannot happen by relying on the United States alone,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
For decades, European NATO members have benefited from American military protection while directing their national budgets toward social programs and economic development. The Trump administration’s push for increased defense spending represents an existential challenge to this post-Cold War arrangement. As Secretary Hegseth makes clear, America’s patience with this imbalance has run out. The future of NATO depends on European willingness to invest seriously in their own defense capabilities and assume a greater share of the collective security burden.
