U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said that Europe must take the lead in building a renewed “NATO 3.0” and transforming the alliance into what he described as a “truly military and hard-power alliance.”
Hegseth made the remarks ahead of a meeting with NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
“‘NATO 3.0’ is a post–Cold War recognition that we must return to a real, hard military alliance with real military capabilities capable of leading conventional defense of Europe,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged NATO allies in Europe to increase defense spending and has signaled a desire to reduce America’s role in the alliance.
In May, Washington reportedly informed NATO members that it would reduce the number of bombers, fighter jets, warships, and other military assets assigned to the alliance.
Trump has also previously threatened to withdraw troops from Germany amid disputes with German leadership, and later from Poland, before ultimately reversing course and announcing the deployment of additional forces there.
At last year’s Hague summit, NATO members committed to investing 5% of GDP annually in core defense and broader security-related areas by 2035. Hegseth said that while many allies have started implementing the pledge, some “still need to do more.”
“We will be honest about this both privately and publicly,” he told reporters, also describing Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget as a “message to the world.”
According to Hegseth, such investments are essential for strengthening U.S. military capabilities and building an “arsenal of freedom” that protects American interests while also supporting NATO and its allies.
