By Zainab Bakare
United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has commended NATO allies for increasing their defence spending but insisted that several member states must do more to meet the alliance’s commitments.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday, Hegseth adopted a conciliatory tone while stressing the importance of accountability among allies.
“Many countries are following through, while some still need to do more, and we will be candid about that, both in private and in public,” he said.
“I think that’s important friends being honest with friends.”
His remarks are expected to reassure NATO partners ahead of next month’s summit with US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised European allies over defence spending and broader security responsibilities.
NATO is seeking to demonstrate progress toward a proposed increase in defence-related spending to five per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a key demand from Washington.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said member countries were significantly increasing their defence budgets.
“When it comes to spending, what we are seeing is staggering amounts of money coming in,” Rutte said.
“Europe and Canada are spending more than $90 billion extra in 2025 compared to 2024, representing almost a 20 per cent increase in defence spending.”
Despite the rise in expenditure, a NATO official disclosed that three European countries, including Slovenia and the Czech Republic, are still projected to fall short of the alliance’s existing target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence this year.
The United States has also made it clear that European allies must assume greater responsibility for their conventional defence as Washington increasingly shifts its strategic focus toward China.
As part of that transition, the Pentagon has informed allies that it plans to reduce some military assets currently allocated to NATO operations.
The proposed reductions have raised concerns among European members, many of whom continue to rely heavily on the United States for critical military capabilities and advanced weapons systems.
Rutte, however, sought to reassure allies, insisting that the planned changes do not signal a diminished US commitment to NATO.
“In the event of a conflict, all allies, including the US, will maximise what they can do to ensure we can fight the war,” he said.
According to reports by US and German media, the planned reductions include about one-third of the 150 US F-16 and F-15 fighter jets assigned to NATO, along with refuelling and reconnaissance aircraft, bombers, drones and a cruise missile-capable submarine.
One of the two US aircraft carrier groups supporting NATO operations is also expected to be withdrawn, the reports said.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged that Europe could eventually replace many of the withdrawn capabilities but cautioned that doing so would take time.
“By and large, we’ll be able to compensate for many things. But we need a bit more time, and that is the clear message,” he said.
“It is difficult and dangerous for the security of NATO territory in Europe if capabilities are withdrawn very quickly without it being clear when they can be offset.”
Beyond defence spending, NATO ministers are also expected to discuss additional support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to join a meeting of Kyiv’s military backers at NATO headquarters before attending a summit of European Union leaders later in the day.
Ukraine hopes to build on recent diplomatic momentum and secure additional military and financial assistance for its ongoing war effort.
