U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte briefed reporters on Thursday following a NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in Brussels. Before answering questions, Hegseth told NATO members that they must increase their defense spending from the current 2% of annual GDP.

Pete Hegseth's nomination once appeared on shaky ground amid allegations that included sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement.

As the new US defense secretary comes to Brussels on his first NATO visit, European allies will express willingness to boost defense spending. But they hope to keep it below the 5% threshold demanded by President Trump.

Pentagon head Pete Hegseth defended Trump's Ukraine negotiations with Putin and urged allies to 'make Nato great again' US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected criticism on Thursday of Washington's negotiating strategy with Russia on the war in Ukraine and warned Europe against treating America like a "sucker" by making it responsible for its

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned European NATO allies against relying too heavily on America for defence. Speaking at NATO HQ in Brussels, Hegseth said, 'President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker.

After taking charge of the Pentagon, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth has called for Europe to handle its own defence and not treat America like a ‘sucker’.