April 8, 2025
In a call for stronger global defense, U.S. defense leaders emphasized the urgency for NATO allies to significantly increase their military spending and take the lead in supporting Ukraine’s defense amid escalating security threats.
Katherine Thompson, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, addressed the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, urging NATO countries to revamp their military capabilities to maintain credible deterrence and ensure collective security.
“While some allies are stepping up—like the U.K. hosting the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and France pledging long-term support—others have lagged behind for decades,” Thompson said. She criticized many Western and Central European nations for underinvesting in their defense, despite possessing the economic strength to do so.
She noted that countries like Poland and several Baltic states now invest a higher percentage of GDP in defense than the U.S., with plans to hit 5% GDP. However, Thompson warned that many wealthier allies have long relied on the U.S. for protection, neglecting their own military responsibilities.
With the global threat landscape worsening over the past four years, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has prioritized combat readiness and called for a “factory reset” of NATO to better respond to modern challenges.
Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, also testified, labeling Russia a persistent and growing threat. He highlighted that Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine shows its willingness to use force to achieve geopolitical ambitions and destabilize Europe.
Thanks to NATO’s strong deterrence posture, the conflict has not expanded into alliance territory, Cavoli said. He credited U.S. and allied military support for enabling Ukraine’s resilient defense and emphasized NATO’s ongoing efforts to modernize its forces.
“After years of neglect, our allies are now investing in defense at rates unseen since the Cold War—a 40% increase since February 2022,” Cavoli stated, adding that NATO now has the structure and strategy needed for high-end warfighting, though more work lies ahead.
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