Key facts
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for a 'NATO 3.0' reboot, urging European allies to lead on continental defense.
- Hegseth criticized some NATO members for defense spending and their stances on the Iran war.
- The U.S. plans to review its military forces stationed in Europe.
- The U.S. administration is shifting focus to the Indo-Pacific region, signaling a potential reduction in certain military assets supplied to NATO.
- NATO members committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on defense by 2035, though some still need to increase spending.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged European allies to take the lead in building a revamped 'NATO 3.0' and to create a 'real, hardline military alliance' with enhanced capabilities for deterring threats on the continent. Speaking ahead of a meeting with NATO counterparts in Brussels, Hegseth stated that the alliance needs to revert to its post-Cold War role as a robust military force.