US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a sharp message to Washington’s allies in Europe and NATO, warning that countries that refuse to raise their contribution to collective defense may face a clear change in the way the United States deals with them, in a position that reflects the tightening of the administration of President Donald Trump in the issue of sharing defense burdens.
Hegseth’s statements came today, Saturday, during his participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue Forum in Singapore, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, where he reaffirmed that Washington is no longer prepared to bear the cost of the security of wealthy countries alone.
“Allies who refuse to shoulder their responsibilities and contribute their share to collective defense will face a clear change in how we deal with them,” Hegseth said, considering that years of “polite calls” to European allies to increase military spending have not achieved the desired response.
He pointed out that the commitment of NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP is still far-fetched, with a number of European countries confirming the difficulty of reaching this level of spending.
He added that “catching up has finally begun,” but stressed that Washington wants partners capable of assuming their responsibilities, not countries that are permanently dependent on the American umbrella.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously hinted at the possibility of reducing the US military presence in Europe, as part of redirecting strategic priorities towards other regions, in parallel with increasing calls to increase European defense spending.
Hegseth touched on the Asia-Pacific region, stressing that its security still depends unbalanced on American military power, at a time when some allies have allowed their defensive capabilities to decline.
He said that the United States believes that building a stronger and more self-reliant network of allies and partners is an essential element for deterring any aggression and maintaining the balance of power in the region.
He warned that the dominance of any single power in the Pacific would upset the regional balance, stressing that any country, including China, should not be able to impose its hegemony or endanger the security and prosperity of the United States and its allies.
He explained that Washington expects its Asian allies and partners to raise their defense spending to about 3.5% of gross domestic product, at a time when the United States intends to invest $1.5 trillion in developing its military capabilities.
He cited the experience of South Korea, saying that it has invested regularly in its defense capabilities due to its location in a region witnessing constant tensions, and that it is building a “real combat force” that reflects a realistic understanding of the nature of threats.
He also praised the defense spending policies of Australia, the Philippines and Japan, stressing that a strong alliance cannot be established if all its members are not contributors to it, adding: “There is no room for free riding.”
In response to a question from the New Zealand delegate, Hegseth considered that Wellington’s goal of raising defense spending from 1% to 2% of GDP was “insufficient,” considering that this level still falls within the forms of free dependence on American protection.
“I am not targeting New Zealand specifically, but I call on partners to assume their responsibilities and play their full role in collective defence,” he said.
In contrast to his harsh tone towards the allies, Hegseth adopted a calmer tone regarding US-Chinese relations, considering that they have become “better than they have been in many years,” and noting that direct military communication channels between the two countries contribute to managing tensions and preventing misunderstandings.
These positions come about two weeks after Trump’s visit to China and his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Trump described his Chinese counterpart as a “great leader,” expressing his confidence in the ability to build a “wonderful future” between the two countries.
For his part, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, in a speech that followed Hegseth’s speech, stressed the importance of preserving the rules-based international system, considering that this system needs reform and development, not dismantling.
Marles warned that giving priority to the logic of force over law would make sovereignty the privilege of major powers only, stressing that international rules give small countries a margin of independence and the ability to influence.
Hegseth’s statements reflect a growing American trend to redefine the relationship with allies on the basis of sharing the defense cost, whether in Europe or Asia. Between Trump’s pressure on NATO, and the shift of strategic attention towards China and the Pacific, Washington appears to be continuing to impose a new equation: the security of allies will not remain guaranteed without a greater contribution to financing and protecting it.
