Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boldly calls for NATO allies to more than double defense spending to 5% of GDP, declaring they “cannot and will not” continue to rely primarily on American military support.
Key Takeaways
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing NATO allies to increase defense spending from the current 2% to an ambitious 5% of GDP target
- Germany has committed to significantly expand its military by adding up to 60,000 active soldiers as part of NATO’s collective response to Russia’s threat
- The Trump administration has made burden-sharing a top priority, with Hegseth stating that peace cannot be achieved “by relying on the United States alone”
- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged that meeting new capability targets will require substantially increased spending by European members
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced Germany will take on the second-largest burden among NATO’s 32 member states
America Demands NATO Allies Step Up
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered an unambiguous message to NATO allies during a recent meeting in Brussels: America will no longer shoulder a disproportionate share of the alliance’s defense burden. The Trump administration has drastically raised expectations for NATO members, proposing they allocate 5% of their GDP to defense spending, more than doubling the current 2% guideline that many countries have yet to achieve. This aggressive target represents President Trump’s determination to fundamentally reshape how the alliance operates and distributes responsibilities.
“I argue that no one has done more than President Donald Trump to redesign NATO as an alliance,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The defense chief’s statements reinforce the Trump administration’s longstanding position that European nations must take greater responsibility for their own security. With mounting threats across the globe and America’s strategic priorities increasingly divided between Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. can no longer serve as the primary security provider for wealthy European nations. This message is consistent with President Trump’s first-term approach to international alliances, but delivered with even greater urgency.
Germany Steps Up Military Expansion
In response to the heightened pressure from Washington, Germany has announced significant plans to bolster its armed forces. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed that Germany will increase its military by up to 60,000 active soldiers, positioning the country to take on the second-largest defense burden within the 32-member alliance. This dramatic expansion represents a reversal of decades of post-Cold War military downsizing and signals Germany’s acknowledgment of the changing security landscape in Europe following Russia’s increasingly aggressive posture.
“Germany’s defense chief said his country will need to boost its armed forces by as many as 60,000 active soldiers as NATO member states commit to ramping up defense spending to deter Russia’s military threat,” stated Germany’s defense chief.
The German military expansion highlights how European nations are beginning to heed American calls for greater self-reliance in defense capabilities. Pistorius’s commitment represents a significant shift for Germany, which has historically been reluctant to build up its military forces due to sensitivities surrounding its role in World War II. The country’s willingness to assume a larger defense role suggests that European nations are finally recognizing the reality that American patience with funding European security is wearing thin.
Redefining NATO’s Defense Spending Requirements
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed that allies are working toward new capability targets that will necessitate substantially increased defense spending. While the alliance has maintained a 2% of GDP guideline since 2014, most members have consistently fallen short of this target. Hegseth’s call for 5% represents a dramatic escalation of expectations and reflects the Trump administration’s assessment of what’s actually required to counter modern threats from Russia, China, and other adversaries. The formal adoption of new spending targets is expected at the upcoming June summit in The Hague.
“Our message is going to continue to be clear. It’s deterrence and peace through strength, but it can’t be relied on. It cannot and will not be reliant on America in a world of a lot of threats,” said Pete Hegseth, US Defense Secretary.
The new spending targets will focus on critical capabilities including air defense systems, ground forces, long-range missiles, and command and control infrastructure. These priorities reflect NATO’s assessment of vulnerabilities exposed by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and the broader deterioration of European security. Rutte acknowledged the financial implications of these targets, stating, “We already know that if we want to meet all these targets, we need to spend much more.” This frank admission validates the Trump administration’s persistent criticism that European allies have long underfunded their defense obligations.
