U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized European NATO allies for not taking sufficient responsibility for their own security, saying they have been "free riding" on American military support. He called on Europe to increase defense spending and capabilities to ensure collective security within the alliance.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday criticized European NATO allies for not shouldering enough of the alliance's burden, according to a statement reported by OSINTdefender. Hegseth accused them of "free riding" on U.S. military support and urged Europe to boost defense spending and capabilities for collective security. The remarks follow Hegseth's earlier accusation that NATO allies betrayed the U.S., as The Zioneer reported at 15:00, and align with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's acknowledgment later in the evening that European nations understand they must do more. The statement adds to a series of U.S. demands for Europe to bear a greater share of defense costs, though Hegseth did not specify consequences or a timeline.
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