Secretary Pete Hegseth, NATO Chief Mark Rutte Push for Stronger European Defense
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Pentagon on April 24, 2025, to discuss the future of the Alliance amid shifting global threats.
In a candid conversation, Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to NATO but emphasized that the Alliance must refocus on warfighting, deterrence, and military lethality. Hegseth urged European and Canadian allies to raise their defense spending to five percent of GDP, stressing that Europe must assume primary responsibility for its own conventional deterrence and defense.
Both leaders explored ways to accelerate NATO’s transition toward greater European leadership, ensuring the Alliance remains agile and effective in an increasingly contested security environment.
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Senior Advisor Sean Parnell provided the readout, highlighting the importance of shared defense priorities and the urgency of modernizing NATO’s operational focus.
This pivotal meeting underscores rising U.S. expectations for a stronger, more self-reliant European pillar within NATO.
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