NATO Must Do More: Pete Hegseth Urges European Allies to ‘Make NATO Great Again’”

Last Updated on 2 months by abdirahman dahir

Let there be no doubt—President Trump won’t let anyone turn Uncle Sam into a pushover.

Pete Hegseth Urges European Allies to Do More to ‘Make NATO Great Again’

At a press conference in Brussels on Thursday, following a meeting with NATO defense ministers, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged European allies to take greater responsibility in strengthening NATO and ensuring its long-term stability

Hegseth stated that President Trump has given him a clear directive: to secure peace through strength while prioritizing America’s interests—its people, taxpayers, borders, and security. “We are accomplishing this by reviving the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and restoring deterrence,” he said.

“NATO must also commit to these objectives,” Hegseth emphasized. “It is a great alliance—the most successful defense coalition in history—but for it to remain strong in the future, our partners must take on a greater role in Europe’s defense. We must make NATO great again.”

He stressed that achieving this goal requires more than just increased defense spending. “It also means revitalizing the transatlantic defense industrial base, rapidly deploying emerging technologies, prioritizing readiness and lethality, and establishing true deterrence.”

Hegseth referenced President Dwight D. Eisenhower, calling him “one of NATO’s strongest supporters” who valued a strong U.S.-Europe relationship. However, he noted that by the end of Eisenhower’s presidency, he was concerned that Europe was not contributing enough to its own defense—warning that it was turning “Uncle Sam into a sucker.”

“Like President Eisenhower, this administration believes deeply in alliances,” Hegseth said. “But make no mistake—President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker.”

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