The US president Donald Trump has consistently urged European NATO allies to increase their defence budgets.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that Europe must assume leadership in developing a renewed «NATO 3.0» and establishing a «genuine, firm military alliance».

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Hegseth delivered these remarks ahead of a NATO defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

«NATO 3.0 reflects a post-Cold War awareness that must return to being a true, strict military alliance with substantial capabilities, able to deter threats right on European soil and spearhead the conventional defence of Europe,» Hegseth explained.

Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that European NATO members allocate more funds to military expenditures and hinted at plans to reduce the United States’ engagement in the alliance, shifting focus toward China and the Indo-Pacific sphere.

In May, Washington reportedly informed NATO partners about plans to scale back the deployment of bombers, fighter aircraft, warships, and other military resources designated for the alliance.

Trump also threatened to withdraw troops from Germany during a dispute with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and subsequently from Poland, before later reversing course by announcing the deployment of an extra 5,000 troops to Poland.

During last year’s Hague Summit, NATO members committed to investing 5% of their GDP annually by 2035 in core defence and broader security-related fields. Hegseth noted that while many had complied, some members «still must do more».

«We will address this candidly both behind closed doors and publicly,» he told journalists on Thursday, additionally endorsing Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget as a «signal to the world».

According to Hegseth, these financial commitments are vital for the US to maintain its military strength and «build the arsenal of freedom, which primarily defends America and its interests, while also reinforcing NATO’s and its allies’ resilience».