‘Nato must be stronger’: US Defense Secretary Hegseth seeks more support to Ukraine

BRUSSELS: New US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held his first meeting with Nato allies on Wednesday and urged European nations to increase military spending and provide more support to Ukraine.
Hegseth emphasized the need for Nato to evolve from a "diplomatic club" to a more formidable military force, AP reported.
"Arrived at Nato HQ. Our commitment is clear: Nato must be a stronger, more lethal force -- not a diplomatic club," Hegseth wrote on X. "Time for allies to meet the moment."
This visit comes as Nato members anxiously await clarity from the Trump administration on its defense priorities.
Hegseth’s talks in Brussels, which span two days, involved discussions with Nato defense ministers and Ukrainian officials, as part of a broader series of meetings between top US officials and European leaders this week.
The high-level visits will culminate with Vice President JD Vance meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a security conference in Munich on Friday.
The Pentagon chief Hegseth on Wednesday will sit down with an international coalition of Ukraine's backers before huddling with the 31 other defence ministers from Nato on Thursday.
Speaking before his meeting, Hegseth reaffirmed the US position, stating that European nations must invest more in their own security and contribute more to collective defense.
"The European continent deserves to be free from any aggression, but it ought to be those in the neighborhood investing the most in that individual and collective defense," he said.
Trump has long accused NATO allies of underfunding the alliance and has suggested increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP, a target far beyond the reach of most member nations.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte indicated that a more achievable target might be set at "north of 3%.”
In 2024, Nato allies in Europe and Canada contributed $485 billion to defense, marking a nearly 20% increase compared to 2023, said Rutte.
"But we need to do a lot more so we have what we need to deter and defend. And so that there is more equitable burden sharing," he said.
Another key topic of Hegseth’s discussions is the war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third year. Trump has promised to negotiate a quick resolution to the conflict, but little has been revealed about the specifics of his plan.
For now, the focus is on urging European nations to increase their military aid to Ukraine, a shift that has been endorsed by Trump’s national security advisor, Mike Waltz, who stated that "the Europeans have to own this conflict going forward."
Under former President Joe Biden, the US provided tens of billions in military assistance to Ukraine. Trump’s administration has yet to offer new support, even though there are still several billion dollars in military aid budgeted under Biden that have not been allocated.
Rutte acknowledged the efforts made by Nato allies, stating that they had surpassed their pledge of 40 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, with more than half of that coming from Europe and Canada.
"It also takes a big step in the direction of what President Trump has called for. I agree with him that we must equalise security assistance to Ukraine," Rutte said.
The meeting of Ukraine’s supporters will be chaired by Britain, marking the first time the US has not led the gathering. Several Nato members, including Britain, are expected to announce new military support for Ukraine at the event.