U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has delivered a stark message to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, warning that some member states are falling short on defence commitments and signalling a tougher U.S. approach as the alliance prepares for its upcoming summit in Ankara.
Speaking as he arrived at Nato headquarters in Brussels, Pete Hegseth made clear that Washington is ready to call out underperformance, both publicly and behind closed doors.
“(There are) some that still need to do more, and we will be candid about that, both in private and in public. I think that's important, friends being honest with friends,” he said.
At the heart of his message was a planned six-month review of U.S. military presence in Europe, which he said would not be a routine exercise.
“It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colours,” Pete Hegseth said, adding that the aim is to “improve U.S. force posture and basing and strengthen NATO 3.0.”
He stressed that the review would assess the real value of U.S. deployments and push allies towards greater responsibility.
“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.”
Pete Hegseth also tied U.S. contributions to Nato more closely to allies’ defence spending levels, warning that countries not meeting targets could face reduced U.S. support.
“Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues, contributions will go down. Nato will be a two-way street.”
He reinforced Washington’s position that the current imbalance is no longer acceptable.
“America cannot care for or pay more for Europe’s defence than our allies do.”
Criticising some of Nato’s wealthiest members, he added: “Some of Nato’s largest economies, some of our richest countries, allies that are happiest to go on about the rules-based international order… still think the era of free riding is here.”
“This is not what any reasonable person would expect, and it’s not going to cut it any more.”
Pete Hegseth also voiced anger over what he described as insufficient support from European allies during recent U.S. operations targeting Iran.
“The United States has defended Europe for generations… but too many of our allies said no, or tried to drown us in arcane legal debates, or criticised us publicly… It was shameful,” he said.
“These allies… put America’s sons and daughters… at risk by denying them the predictable access… that never should have been in question.”
The defence secretary said the alliance must return to its core role as a deterrent military force, criticising its evolution over recent decades.
“Our direction of travel is and has been clear,” he said. “This is the right thing to do by the American people. It’s the right thing to do by this alliance.”
He argued that Nato had lost focus in what he described as an era of “distraction, de-industrialisation and demilitarisation”.
“Nato 2.0 was an era of free riding… Those were lost years that we are not going back to.”
He added that the alliance must refocus on traditional military strength.
“Nato has been a paper tiger and a one-way street. No more.”
Pete Hegseth emphasised that Europe must take on a greater share of responsibility for its own defence, pointing to commitments made at last year’s summit.
“Europe can and must take primary responsibility for its conventional defence… we know our allies can do it, and it’s time.”
He framed this as a return to the original vision of Nato’s founders, arguing that Europe was never intended to rely heavily on the United States.
“Europe was not supposed to be a dependency of the United States… Europe was supposed to be a military power, allied with a strong America.”
He also recalled earlier expectations that U.S. troops would eventually return home, suggesting Nato had drifted from its original purpose.
Hegseth made clear that Washington’s expectations have evolved and that allies are now being assessed on their willingness to act.
“For all of our clarity, too many allied capitals seem to still miss something in translation,” he said, warning that “too many allies still do not recognise the historic need… to forge a relevant, powerful military alliance.”
He added that recent events had exposed gaps in commitment.
“We gave our allies a test… and too many failed it.”
As Nato ministers meet for the last time ahead of the Ankara summit, Hegseth’s remarks set a confrontational tone, signalling a shift towards a more demanding and performance-driven alliance.
With the U.S. pushing for a return to what it calls a “hardline” military posture, the coming months are likely to test whether European allies can meet those expectations or face bigger changes in the balance within Nato.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed a number of regional developments, transport connectivi...
Southeast Asian foreign ministers called for restraint on Tuesday as renewed conflict in the Middle East overshadowed regional talks in Manila, warnin...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar sys...
Spain are world champions for the second time after Ferran Torres' extra-time winner secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump's comments blaming Canada for wildfire smoke affecting parts of the United States. He called Trump's remarks "absolutely unacceptable" as crews battle hundreds of forest fires across the province.
Two U.S. service members have been killed and another is missing following an Iranian attack in Jordan, the U.S. military said on Saturday (18 July), as fighting between Washington and Tehran intensified despite efforts to revive a collapsed ceasefire.
North Korean state media called South Korea a “puppet” over its participation in a U.S.-led maritime exercise, warning that Seoul and Washington would bear responsibility for any “unpredictable escalation” in the region.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed a number of regional developments, transport connectivity and the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia during talks in Berlin.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers called for restraint on Tuesday as renewed conflict in the Middle East overshadowed regional talks in Manila, warning that escalating violence could derail diplomatic efforts and threaten global stability.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of around $690 million in additional support. The latest disbursement brings total funding under the programme to about $2.2 billion.
Japan said on Tuesday it had lodged a diplomatic protest with China after Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire drills in waters Tokyo considers part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Defence companies are accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of high-speed interceptor drones as Russia increasingly deploys jet-powered versions of its Shahed attack drones, posing a growing challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment