US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared Europe must spearhead the development of NATO 3.0, transforming the organization into a hardline military alliance capable of independent continental deterrence. Speaking in Brussels ahead of meetings with counterparts, Hegseth emphasized that the post-Cold War era requires European nations to take the lead on their own conventional defense.
This directive aligns with President Donald Trump’s strategy to scale back US involvement in the Atlantic alliance while pivoting toward China and the Indo-Pacific. Washington has reportedly signaled plans to reduce bombers, fighter jets, and warships allocated to NATO. Despite threats to withdraw troops from Germany and Poland, the administration recently committed an additional 5,000 forces to Warsaw.
NATO members previously pledged to invest 5% of GDP annually on defense by 2035. While acknowledging progress, Hegseth stated some allies still fall short and promised candid assessments regarding compliance. He highlighted Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion US defense budget as a global message intended to protect American interests while backstopping allied strength.