US Defense Secretary: "Europe Must Lead NATO to Deter Russian Aggression"

Hegseth: "NATO Must Defend Itself"
Positively Assesses Increase in Defense Spending by NATO Member States

On the 15th (local time), United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated, "To deter Russian aggression, Europe must take the lead in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)." This remark is interpreted as a reiteration of the Donald Trump administration's policy that the United States will no longer serve as the "wallet" for European security.

Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of Defense, is delivering a speech at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting held on the 15th (local time) at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to Bloomberg News, Secretary Hegseth made these comments at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, emphasizing, "The United States will continue to fulfill its obligations to its allies, but we also expect other countries to strengthen their own defense capabilities."

He specifically stated, "We are clearly aware of the most effective factors in deterring Russian aggression," adding, "First, a lethal, combat-ready NATO led by Europe; and second, a Ukrainian military with the combat capabilities to defend itself and continually deter Russian aggression at NATO's borders."

Secretary Hegseth positively assessed the increase in defense spending by NATO member states and the expansion of support for Ukraine. NATO agreed at its summit in June to raise defense spending to around 5% of GDP.

He further defined the new weapons supply system known as the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) by stating, "Europe bears the costs, the United States supplies the weapons, and NATO deploys them," stressing again, "There should be no free riders." The PURL system has been in operation since August, following President Trump's directive that Europe should bear the costs of supporting Ukraine. Under this system, U.S.-made weapons are supplied, but the costs are covered by Europe, not the United States.

To date, countries that have contributed to or expressed their intention to contribute to PURL include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. John Healey, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence, also stated, "The United Kingdom is considering ways to support Ukraine through PURL." France, Spain, and Italy have not yet announced their intention to participate.