The head of the Pentagon harshly criticizes the European states: “They have weakened their armies”. Pete Hegseth says Europe and NATO 'have important decisions to make'
Pete Hegseth, the head of the Pentagon, issued a strong warning to European states on Friday at a summit dedicated to security and defense held in Singapore. The US official accused countries on the continent of neglecting defense investment and treating the strengthening of their own armies with superficiality.
Pete Hegseth at a cabinet meeting. PHOTO EPA EFE
According to the Pentagon official, Washington's repeated calls for increased military budgets have been ignored for years, and the consequences are now being seen in a global context marked by tensions and hybrid threats.
“For too long, polite pleas to our European allies to spend more on their own defense have been ignored. Finally, they are now trying to catch up, and we are being distracted by empty globalist rhetoric about a rules-based international order“, said Hegseth, quoted by TVR Info.
“If you can't enforce them with coercive force, the rules aren't worth the paper they're written on”
The head of the Pentagon also criticized the open borders policy adopted by some European capitals, which he says has contributed to the vulnerability of the continent.
“While European capitals have opened their borders and weakened their armies, you can have as many rules as you want, and rules are great, but if you can't back them up with coercive force, the rules aren't worth the paper they're written on. Europe and NATO have some important decisions to makee”, emphasized the official.
Pete Hegseth's statements come at a time when security tensions are rising globally and pressure on NATO states to strengthen their military capabilities is increasing.
We remind you that Donald Trump intends to drastically reduce the arsenal of US fighter jets, warships and submarines reserved for NATO allies in the event of a military crisis in Europe.
A military emissary sent by Pete Hegseth surprised senior NATO officials at a secret meeting in Brussels late last week, revealing that US firepower dedicated to the defense of Europe will be significantly reduced, Der Spiegel and Reuters reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that Europe can guarantee its security independently of NATO, relying on Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty.
