Hegseth's Urgent Call: 5% NATO Defense Spending Increase Demanded

NATO Summit Looms: Hegseth Urges 5% Defense Spending Increase Brussels, Belgium – June 5, 2025 – In a brief statement to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today stressed the critical need for increased military readiness within the alliance. Hegseth explicitly called for a 5% increase in defense spending across all NATO member states. Hegseth's remarks follow recent discussions on bolstering NATO's collective defense capabilities in response to ongoing geopolitical tensions. "You got to be more than flags, you got to be formations," Hegseth stated, emphasizing the need for concrete action beyond symbolic gestures. He directly linked his proposal to President Trump's earlier efforts, stating, "We're here to continue the work that President Trump started, which is a commitment to 5% defense spending across this alliance." Hegseth's call for increased spending is significant, given the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague later this month. The Secretary of Defense indicated that the 5% increase is not merely a goal but a necessity to be achieved before the summit. This ambitious target underscores the urgency felt within the alliance to strengthen its collective security posture. The Secretary's emphasis on combat readiness suggests a shift towards a more proactive approach to potential threats. The successful implementation of this plan would greatly enhance NATO's ability to respond effectively to future challenges.