Defense Minister Beit Higseth, NATO allies on Thursday, warned against “bearing primary responsibility” for defending Europe – and that anything less than the spending of 5 % of the annual GDP on their army “is not enough.”
“Our European allies must bear the primary responsibility for defending the continent, which means ownership of security by all allies, guided by a clear understanding of the strategic facts,” Hayth said to a ministerial meeting of defense in Brussels, part of his first foreign journey.
“This begins with increased defensive spending,” he said.
“Two percent is the beginning of, as President Trump said, but it is not enough, nor is it 3 percent, nor 4 % – more like 5 %.”
“We can speak everything we want about values. Values are important, but you cannot photograph the values. Higseth added:” You can't shoot at flags and you cannot shoot strong speeches. “There is no solid energy alternative.”
President Trump has long claimed that the NATO countries did not attend enough burden of defense on the continent, and threatened provocatively during his successful campaign for the year 2024 that he would allow Russia “everything they want against hell” for European countries if it is not a higher dowry.
On Thursday, Higseth protested the strike of President Dwight de Ezenhower for the year 1959 that the European dependence on American forces to maintain peace and Soviets after World War II was “making a lollipop from Uncle Sam”.
“Like President Eisenhower, this administration believes in alliances, deeply believes in alliances,” the Pentagon leader told the foreign newspaper for foreign graphics. “But do not make mistakes, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn uncle Sam to the uncle's lollipop.”
On Wednesday, the President spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Folodimir Zelinski, seeking to complete the war that lasted almost three years between nations.
Other Trump administration officials – including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Scott Bessant – spend time in Europe this week.
Both are expected to meet with Zelensky, with Vans join the Ukrainian president at the weekend conference in Munich.
Higseth referred to NATO officials on Thursday that he also attended a meeting to call the defense in Ukraine the day before this allies, who were briefed on American efforts to make “a diplomatic and peaceful end of war as quickly as possible, in a permanent, permanent and solid peace.”
But this will not come with a return to the pre -2014 borders of the nation that Russia invaded in February 2022.
“The borders will not be retracted to what everyone would like to be in 2014,” said Hegseth.
“It is a recognition of the facts of solid force on the ground,” continued, “then realizing that the negotiating peace will be a kind of limits that none of the two sides want.”
Higseth refused to discuss the “standards” of a possible deal between Russia and Ukraine as well, but he said: “Trump, as a manufacturer and businessman, realizes that the investment relationship with Ukraine, in the end, is in the long run for the United States, is much more clear than any promises or Common values we have.
