Hegseth stated that during meetings in Brussels, he will urge European allies to increase defense spending
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said he agrees with the White House's demand that European NATO states spend 5% of their GDP on defense. At meetings in Brussels this week, he will urge European allies to spend more on defense.
The head of the US Department of Defense told reporters in Stuttgart on Tuesday, February 11, the European Parliament reports, Censor.NET informs.
Hegseth said that in the coming days, at a meeting in the Ramstein format and NATO defense ministers in Brussels, he would have "direct conversations with his friends" about "capabilities, leadership and burden sharing."
"The European continent deserves to be free from any aggression, but those in the neighborhood (meaning that the war in Ukraine is taking place in the neighborhood of European states - ed.) must invest the most in this individual and collective defense," the Pentagon chief said.
He also reminded that US President Donald Trump wants European NATO countries to spend 5% of their GDP on defense. Hughes added that he agrees with this requirement of the Trump administration.
Earlier it was reported that NATO defense ministers will discuss a number of issues, including further support for Ukraine, at a meeting on February 13 in Brussels.
