During a meeting of a Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Belgium, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the need for European allies to take ownership of conventional security on the continent. Hegseth highlighted the shifting priorities of the U.S., focusing on deterring war with China in the Pacific due to the threat posed by the Communist Chinese. This strategic shift may lead to a drawdown of U.S. forces in Europe, although there are currently no active plans for such a move.
Hegseth stressed the importance of European allies leading from the front and establishing a division of labor that maximizes comparative advantages in Europe and the Pacific. While the U.S. remains committed to having a presence in Europe, Hegseth emphasized that European countries should not rely solely on American forces for their security.
With approximately 100,000 U.S. troops deployed across Europe and 375,000 assigned to the Indo-Pacific Command, the U.S. is reevaluating its global troop postures. The Trump administration initiated troop withdrawals from Europe, while also increasing troop presence on the southern border.
In terms of Ukraine, Hegseth stated that any European peacekeeping forces sent to assist in the conflict with Russia should not be from NATO and would not be protected under Article 5. He also expressed skepticism about Ukraine joining NATO as a realistic outcome of negotiations.
President Trump's call for NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% was reiterated by Hegseth, who emphasized the need for a more balanced relationship that reduces dependency on the U.S. for security.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed the sentiment that security guarantees without American involvement are insufficient, emphasizing the importance of U.S. support for real security assurances.
