US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth has told allies on his first international trip that the US was no longer “primarily focused” on European security and that Europe would have to take the lead in defending Ukraine.
Speaking to Defence Ministers at a lunchtime meeting in Brussels, Hegseth noted that Europe had to provide “the overwhelming share” of future military aid to Kyiv.
He also reiterated Trump’s position that “stopping the fighting and reaching an enduring peace” in Ukraine is a top priority – and that Kyiv must recognise that it cannot win back all the land occupied by Russia. He stressed, “As the war approaches its third anniversary, our message is clear: the bloodshed must stop and this war must end.”
He voiced that Trump aims to end the war in Ukraine through “diplomacy and bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the table,” adding that the US Department of Defense will help achieve this goal.
“We must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusory goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”
Pete Hegseth
Additionally, Hegseth emphasised that the US wanted NATO allies to spend 5% of their GDP on defence, and praised Poland for reaching this level. That would mean a doubling for the UK of defence spending – its budget is currently 2.33% of GDP.
“Part of this is speaking frankly with your people about how this threat can only be met by spending more on defence. Two percent is not enough; President Trump has called for 5 percent, and I agree.
“Increasing your commitment to your own security is a down payment for the future.”
Pete Hegseth
Hegseth explained that the shift away from Europe was necessary because the US “faces consequential threats to our homeland” and was focused on border security. At the same time, he added, “We also face a peer competitor in the communist Chinese” able to threaten the American mainland and “core national interests in the Indo-Pacific.”
“The US is prioritising deterring war with China in the Pacific, recognising the reality of scarcity, and making the resourcing trade-offs to ensure deterrence does not fail. As the United States shifts its attention to these threats, European allies must lead from the front.”
Pete Hegseth
Hegseth’s positioning reflects priorities repeatedly stated by the US President that Europe must increase defence budgets and contribute to its own security, though they fall short of saying the US would not protect a NATO member if attacked.
Hegseth Rules Out NATO Membership For Ukraine
Moreover, Hegseth ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine.
He noted that a durable peace for Ukraine must include robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again.
However, he added that the United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a “realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement” to the conflict.
“Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops. To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine.”
Pete Hegseth
Hegseth added that any British or European troops who did end up deployed in Ukraine would not be covered by part of a NATO mission or covered by the alliance’s article 5 guarantee, meaning they would in effect be reliant on help from participating states.
NATO’s article 5 states that if one member state comes under attack, others have to be prepared to come to its aid.
It has only been invoked once in the alliance’s history, when the US was attacked on 9/11.
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