• World News
  • Politics
  • Stock
  • Investing
  • Editor’s Pick
Time And Sales Reporter
Politics

‘Make NATO great again’: Hegseth pushes European allies to step up defense efforts

by February 13, 2025
February 13, 2025

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that as the U.S. aims to ‘revive the warrior ethos,’ European members of NATO also should follow suit and bolster defense efforts. 

‘NATO should pursue these goals as well,’ Hegseth told NATO members in Brussels on Thursday. ‘NATO is a great alliance, the most successful defense alliance in history, but to endure for the future, our partners must do far more for Europe’s defense.’  

‘We must make NATO great again,’ he said.  

As of 2023, the U.S. spent 3.3% of its GDP on defense spending — totaling $880 billion, according to the nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. More than 50% of NATO funding comes from the U.S., while other allies, like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, have contributed between 4% and 8% to NATO funding in recent years. 

Hegseth urged European allies to bolster defense spending from 2% to 5% of gross domestic product, as President Donald Trump has long advocated. 

NATO comprises more than 30 countries and was originally formed in 1949 to halt the spread of the Soviet Union. 

Hegseth pointed to former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who advocated for a strong relationship with European allies. But he noted that eventually Eisenhower felt that the U.S. was bearing the burden of deploying U.S. troops to Europe in 1959, according to the State Department’s Office of the Historian. Eisenhower reportedly told two of his generals that the Europeans were ‘making a sucker out of Uncle Sam.’ 

Hegseth said that he and Trump share sentiments similar to Eisenhower’s. 

‘This administration believes in alliances, deeply believes in alliances, but make no mistake, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker,’ Hegseth said.

‘We can talk all we want about values,’ Hegseth said. ‘Values are important, but you can’t shoot values, you can’t shoot flags, and you can’t shoot strong speeches. There is no replacement for hard power. As much as we may not want to like the world we live in, in some cases, there’s nothing like hard power.’

Hegseth’s comments come as the Trump administration navigates negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict between the two countries. On Wednesday, Trump called both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveled to Kyiv.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are slated to meet with Zelenskyy Friday at the Munich Security Conference.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has come under scrutiny for the negotiations, fielding criticism that Ukraine is being pressured to give in to concessions after Hegseth said on Wednesday that it isn’t realistic for Ukraine to regain its pre-war borders with Russia. 

‘Putin is gonna pocket this and ask for more,’ Brett Bruen, director of global engagement under former President Barack Obama, told Fox News Digital. 

Michael McFaul, ambassador to Russia under the Obama administration, also shared concerns in a social media post on X on Wednesday, claiming that Trump was delivering Russia a ‘gift.’ 

But Hegseth said he rejected similar accusations. 

‘Any suggestion that President Trump is doing anything other than negotiating from a position of strength is, on its face, ahistorical and false,’ Hegseth said Thursday. 

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Trump vowed on the campaign trail in 2024 that he would work to end the conflict if elected again. 

Fox News’ Emma Colton and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
previous post
USAID’s green energy programs have maximized harm to the developing world, according to former official
next post
‘Truly providential’: Trump made promise to Marc Fogel’s mother moments before Butler assassination attempt

Related Posts

Iran attacks US base in Qatar, Trump thanks...

June 24, 2025

Trump hails ‘monumental’ damage as experts await verdict...

June 24, 2025

Trump admin secures pledge from 75% of health...

June 24, 2025

Ex-Clinton official applauds Trump’s ‘courageous’ Iran call, doubts...

June 24, 2025

Hakeem Jeffries demands Trump ‘justify’ striking Iran, but...

June 24, 2025

Israeli President Herzog: Israel ‘not dragging’ US into...

June 23, 2025







    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.




    Recent Posts

    • Walmart to pay $10 million to settle lawsuit over money transfer fraud

      June 24, 2025
    • Apple sued by shareholders who allege it overstated AI progress

      June 24, 2025
    • Lagging Mid-cap ETF Hits Moment of Truth

      June 24, 2025
    • The Best Five Sectors, #24

      June 24, 2025
    • This Week’s Earnings Watch: Turnarounds and Momentum Plays

      June 24, 2025
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Copyright © 2025 timeandsalesreporter.com | All Rights Reserved

    Time And Sales Reporter
    • World News
    • Politics
    • Stock
    • Investing
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    John Fetterman and Lindsey Graham advocate for the...

    January 20, 2025

    Kash Patel’s nomination to lead FBI clears first...

    February 13, 2025

    Hunter Biden seen driving Toyota rental in South...

    May 31, 2025