Brussels: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reaffirmed on Thursday that Washington remains committed to NATO but called on European countries to increase defense spending to “make NATO great again.” Hegseth stated that members must do more to ensure the alliance’s continuation, stressing that “our partners must do a lot more for Europe’s defense. We must make NATO great again.” He warned that “there is no substitute for hard power,” noting that confronting Russia is primarily “a European responsibility.”

According to Kuwait News Agency, Hegseth rejected the idea that the US administration’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict amounted to “concessions” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, explaining that it was “recognition of the hard reality on the ground.” Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized, at the conclusion of the meeting of NATO defense ministers, the need to enhance deterrence and defense, alongside a “significant increase in defense spending.”

Rutte stated that the participation of US Secretary of Defense for the first time in NATO meetings since President Trump’s election sent a clear message: “America’s enduring commitment to a strong NATO alliance and America’s clear expectations for all allies to carry their fair share of the burden.” NATO said in a statement that ministers discussed strong defense plans approved by all allies. It added that today “allies recognize the need for significantly more investment.”

Defense ministers also discussed enhancing the defense industrial base on both sides of the Atlantic, acknowledging the need for a wartime mindset to ensure credible deterrence and defense in the face of growing security challenges.