Pete Hegseth Demands NATO Allies Spend More On Defense [Video]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on European members of NATO to follow through on President Donald Trump’s request for them to increase their defense spending budget on Thursday.

Since his first term in office, Trump has consistently demanded that European allies increase their defense spending and stop relying on the United States. Trump has even floated the idea of leaving NATO unless allies start to pay their “fair share.”

Hegseth reiterated Trump’s demand during a summit in Brussels on Thursday morning.

The U.S. is committed to building a stronger, more lethal NATO. However, we must ensure that European and Canadian commitment to Article III of this treaty is just as strong. Article III says that allies, and I quote, “by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.” Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent, …