During the NATO defense ministers' conference in Brussels on 18/6, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared the alliance "has been a paper tiger and a one-way street for too long". He implied that Washington bears the majority of the alliance's military and financial responsibilities.
"This will not continue. We have made it clear, but it seems too many allies still don't fully grasp the message. Too many allies haven't recognized the historic need that President Donald Trump has made clear to them and to NATO itself: to rebuild this organization into a powerful military alliance fit for the times," he stated.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the NATO defense ministers' conference in Brussels, Belgium on 18/6. Photo: AP |
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the NATO defense ministers' conference in Brussels, Belgium on 18/6. Photo: AP
The US Defense Secretary called for reforming the alliance into "NATO 3.0", capable of deterring all threats. He explained that "NATO 3.0 is the post-Cold War acknowledgment that we need to return to being a truly robust alliance, possessing substantive capabilities, strong enough to deter right here on this continent, taking the lead in the mission of defending Europe with conventional military capabilities."
To achieve this goal, Washington will invest 1.5 trillion USD in defense by 2027, sending a message to the world that the US is building an "arsenal of freedom". This arsenal will protect the US and its interests, but will also strengthen NATO and its allies. The US Defense Secretary believes that allies must "be ready to stand up and act decisively" to defend their own continent.
The US official announced that the Pentagon will conduct a 6-month review of US forces in Europe. The outcome will depend on how quickly NATO member states can assume their own security responsibilities. "This will be a genuine review. It aims to ensure NATO swiftly and irreversibly shifts towards Europe taking a leading role, assuming primary responsibility for the continent's defense," he said during the meeting. He also criticized allies for not allowing US forces to use bases in Europe during the operation against Iran, calling it "shameful".
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Defense Secretary Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a press conference during the NATO defense ministers' conference in Brussels, Belgium on 18/6. Photo: AP |
Defense Secretary Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a press conference during the NATO defense ministers' conference in Brussels, Belgium on 18/6. Photo: AP
President Trump has complained for years about the burden the US carries for NATO. He has repeatedly urged Europe to do more to defend itself without Washington's support, and has also threatened to withdraw from the alliance.
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby stated in February that the alliance had transformed into "NATO 2.0" after the collapse of the Soviet Union, emphasizing that this version is no longer suitable. US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, who serves as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO, is developing contingency plans to protect the continent. This follows a signal from Washington on 3/6 that it would cease providing an aircraft carrier and support ships, as well as a tanker aircraft fleet, dozens of fighter jets, and other equipment to the continent in the event of a crisis. The Trump administration stated that the US needs to be prepared for two simultaneous conflicts, adding that it wants more military resources at hand to prepare for a scenario involving conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific.
Pham Giang (According to AP, Independent)
