BREAKING NEWS: Pete Hegseth Puts NATO Allies On Notice That U.S. Will Not Be Treated Like A 'Sucker'

good afternoon everyone we're going to start with the US press we're going to take two from the US we'll take two from International and then we'll go from there depending on the depending on the secretary so let us start with now hold on John sir I'm gonna talk first that uh it is great to be here at NATO with 31 allies also uh with my wife J who's been meeting with families of US troops both here in Germany and we're heading to Poland right after this as well that's what this is all about for me

for president Trump uh and the defense department I also want to express a special thanks uh to the Secretary General Secretary General Ruta uh for your boldness for your friendship for your leadership and most especially for your urgency your urgency of the matter at hand which is great to see uh from the leader of NATO look uh forward to working very closely with him and his team and before we're talking about what we've done at the ministerial I want to reaffirm a few things from this Podium first as we see it NATO's strategic objectives are

to prevent great power conflict in Europe deter nuclear and non-nuclear aggression and defeat threats to treaty allies should deterrence fail second the US is committed to building building a stronger more lethal NATO however we must ensure that European and Canadian commitment to article three of this treaty is just as strong article three says that allies and I quote by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual Aid will maintain and develop their individual and Collective capacity to resist armed attack leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent which means

security ownership by all allies Guided by a clear understanding of strategic realities and it's an imperative given the Strategic realities that we face and that begins with increasing defense spending 2% is a start as president Trump has said but it's not enough nor is 3% nor is 4% more like 5% real investment real urgency we can talk all we want about values values are important but you can't shoot values you can't shoot flags and you can't shoot strong speeches there is no replacement for hard power as much as we may not want to like the

world we live in in some cases there's nothing like hard power it should be obvious that increasing Allied European defense spending is critical as the President of the United States has said also critical is expanding our defense industrial based capacity on both sides of the Atlantic our dollars our Euros our pounds must become real capabilities the US is fully Comm under President Trump's leadership to pursue these objectives in face in the face of today's threats yesterday I had a chance to attend the Ukraine defense contact group today participated in both the NATO ministerial and the

Ukraine Council in both we discussed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine I had the chance to brief allies on President Trump's top priority a diplomatic peaceful end to this war as quickly as possible in a manner that creates enduring and durable peace the American defense department fully supports the efforts of the Trump Administration and we look to allies to support this important work with leading on Ukraine security assistance now through incre increased contributions and greater ownership of future security assistance to Ukraine to that end I want to thank uh my UK counterpart defense secretary John

Healey for hosting this Ukraine defense contact group and for his leadership on support of Ukraine president Trump gave me a clear Mission achieve peace through strength as well as put America First our people our taxpayers our borders and our security we are doing this by Reviving The Warrior ethos rebuilding our military and reestablishing deterrence NATO should pursue these goals as well NATO is a great Alliance the most successful defense Alliance in history but to endure for the future our partners must do far more for Europe's defense we must make NATO great again it begins with

defense spending but must also include Reviving the transatlantic defense industrial base rapidly Fielding emerging Technologies prioritizing Readiness and lethality and establishing real deterrence finally I want to close with this after World War II first general and then President Eisenhower was one of NATO's strongest supporters he believed in a strong relationship with Europe however by the end of Eisenhower's presidency even he was concerned that Europe was not shouldering enough of its own defense nearly making in Eisenhower's words quote a sucker out of Uncle Sam well like president and Eisenhower this Administration believes in alliances deeply believes

in alliances but make no mistake president Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle sucker thank you and we're glad to take some questions thanks very much let's start with the US traveling TV pool with Liz f thank you secretary hex uh you have focused on what Ukraine is giving up what concessions will Putin be asked to make um well that's I would start by saying the the arguments that have been made that somehow um coming to the table right now is making concessions uh to Vladimir Putin outright that we otherwise or

that the president of the United States shouldn't otherwise make I just reject that at its face there's a reason why negotiations are happening right now just a few weeks after president Trump was sworn into as president the United States Vladimir Putin responds to strength in 2014 he invaded Crimea not during the presidency of Donald Trump over four years there was no Russian aggression from 2016 to 2020 in 2022 Vladimir Putin took aggression on Ukraine once again not while President Trump was President of the United States so any suggestion that President Trump is doing anything other

than negotiating from a position of strength is on its face ahistorical and false uh so when you look at what he may have to give or take what's in or what's out in those negotiations we have the perfect dealmaker at the table from a position of strength to deal with both Vladimir Putin and zalinski no one's going to get everything that they want uh understanding who committed the aggression in the first place but I challenge anyone else to think of a world leader at this moment who with credibility and strength could bring those two leaders

to the table and Forge a durable piece that ultimately serves the interests of Ukraine stops The Killing and the death which President has been Trump has been clear he wants to do and hopefully ultimately is guarant guaranteed by streng Europeans were they're prepared to back it up uh why not invoke Article Five then for the NATO peacekeeping forces that could potentially be deployed um like how does that deter president well I would say I want to be clear about something as it pertains to uh NATO membership not being realistic outcome for negotiations that's something that

was stated as part of my remarks here as part of a coordination with how for executing these ongoing negotiations which are led by President Trump all of that said these negotiations are led by President Trump everything is on the table in his conversations with Vladimir Putin and zalinski uh what he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of the leader of the Free World of President Trump so I'm not going to stand at this Podium and declare what president Trump will do or won't do what will be in or what will be

out what concessions will be made or what concessions are not made I I can look as our team has a what's realistic likely on an outcome I think realism is an important part of the conversation that hasn't existed enough inside conver conversations amongst friends but simply pointing out realism like the borders won't be rolled back to what everybody would like them to be in 2014 is not a concession to Vladimir Putin it's a recognition of hard power realities on the ground after a lot of investment in sacrifice first by the ukrainians and then by allies

and then a realization that a negotiated piece is going to be some sort of demarcation that neither neither side wants but it's not my job as a secretary of defense to define the parameters of the president of the United States as he leads some of the most complex and consequential negotiations in the world sticking with the US press let us go with axios z b right in thank you Mr secretary given the position you've now Stak out what leverage exactly is Ukraine being left with especially if the US also plans to wind down its military

aid and then quickly if a NATO alies is attacked by Russia or any country will the US unequivocally uphold its obligations under Article 5 regardless of that country well we've said we're committed to the alliance and that's part of the alliance right you point out Article Five you point out article three it's just a cheap I'm not saying it's cheap coming from you but it's just a cheap political point to say oh we've left all the negotiating cards off the table uh in by recognizing some realities that exist on the ground president zalinsky understands the

realities on the ground President Putin understands the realities on the ground and president Trump as a dealmaker as a negotiator understands those Dynamics as well by no means is anything that I State here even though we we lead the most powerful military in the world Heming in the commander-in-chief in his negotiations to ultimately decide where it goes or does not go oh he's got all the cards he would like and the interesting part is often times while the conventional status quo mindset or the Legacy Media wants to play Checkers the same checkers game we've been

playing for decades president Trump time and time again finds a way to play chess as a dealmaker as a businessman who understands how to create realities and opportunities where they otherwise may not exist take for example the conversations that our treasury secretary had in Kiev recently with President zinski which will continue in Munich with our vice president and Secretary of State around Investments and resources inside Ukraine uh I I don't want to get ahead of any decision or announcement that could be made there it could be any number of parameters but president Trump as a

dealmaker and a businessman recognizes that a investment relationship with Ukraine ultimately in the long term for the United States he's a lot more tangible than any promises or shared values we might have even though we have them um there is something to relationships and deals in real ways whether militarily or economically or diplomatically that he sees that are possibilities that could Forge together uh a lot of opportunities to show that solidarity that Vladimir Putin will clearly recognize that's one of any number of other opportunities that this President will leverage in these high stakes negotiations so

I just reject on its face the premise that somehow president Trump isn't dealing with a full set of cards uh when he's the one that can determine ultimately what cards he holds great now shifting to the international press we'll take the French wire service on France press with Max Delan thank you very much uh Secretary of Defense um can you you've spoken about trying to force both Putin and zalinski to the table can you give a guarantee that no deal will be forced on Ukraine that they do not want to accept and also that you

will include Europe in the negotiations about their own about an issue that that that concerns European security and can you tell tell us whether the US will continue to supply arms to Ukraine during any negotiations well to the first part of your question that's not ultimately my decision uh president will lead these negotiations alongside our secretary of state our national security advisor um and numerous other officials that will be involved and ultimately we've played our role in in talking to our NATO allies about uh what that would look like President Trump I want to point

out I've got the the truths right here that he posted called both in case we missed it Vladimir Putin and president zalinski called them both any negotiation that's had will be had with both I also very encouraged by what the Secretary General has said here uh TR clearly attune to the realities of the moment uh the need for peace and that the NATO alliance and European members will play a role in that uh ultimately president Trump speaking to those two countries is Central to the deal being made but it affects a lot of people of

course so I I'm not going to I'm not going to be involved in those intimate diplomatic negotiations that's for the the pros at top the Trump Administration who do diplomacy and negotiations ultimately is security assistance uh we have continued to provide what has been allocated uh I think it would be fair to say that things like future funding either less or more uh could be on the table in in negot iations as well whatever the president determines is the most robust carrot or stick on either side to induce a durable uh piece understanding obviously the

motivations that Vladimir Putin has had on on Ukraine for quite some time thank you we'll have a second International press Outlet we'll go with the German paper with Dr Thomas Thanks a lotas uh good afternoon Mr secretary two questions please uh the first one regarding the new defense investment PL when you and president Trump speak about raising it to 5% do you mean European allies only or do you mean the us as well which is currently at 3.4% according to Nato statistics and if the letter is true when do you think the us could possibly

reach the goal of spending 5% on defense that's number one number two you've said yesterday that Europeans need to take ownership of their own conventional security so should Europeans expect that ultimately the US would withdraw the bik of their forces from Europe and just leave in in place what is necessary for nuclear DET returns I know there's a revision going on I don't expect you to name any numbers but maybe give us an Outlook of what we should expect thank you thank you I think nobody can or should contest the extent of America's willingness to

invest in National Security um our we have a budget of 850 billion dollars spent on defense um I'm in the business of ensuring that every dollar of that is used wisely which is why we're pushing a pentagon audit and making sure that uh we're cutting fat so that we've got more at the T at the tip of the spear uh 3.4% is a very robust investment um larger than most uh of our allies within NATO any defense any defense minister or Secretary of Defense that tells you they wouldn't want more would be lying to you

I understand that ultimately we have uh our own budgetary considerations to be had but I don't think an unwillingness of NATO allies to invest uh in their own defense spending can be dismissed Away by trying to point at the 900 billion dollars that America has invested around the globe to include the NATO alliance and saying that's not enough uh so ultimately we are very much committed to the NATO alliance and to our allies but without burdens sharing without creating the right set of incentives for European countries to invest uh then we would be forced to

attempt to be everywhere for everybody all the time which in a world of fcal restraints is again to get back to that word reality just not reality so yes we will continue to spend robustly our expectation of our friends and we say this in solidarity is you have to spend more on your defense for your country on that continent understanding that the American Military and the American people stand beside you as we have in NATO but can't have the expectation of being the permanent guarant to or as I alluded to uh from what even Eisenhower

observed post World War II that shift has to happen the peace dividend has to end there are autocrats with ambitions around the globe from Russia to the Communist Chinese either the West awakens to that reality and creates combat multipliers with their allies and partners to include NATO or we will abdicate that responsibility to somebody else with all the wrong values uh you mentioned Europe um we have not said in any way that we're abandoning our allies in Europe there have been no decisions based on troop levels again that's a discussion to be had by the

commander-in-chief in in these uh High States negotiations and that would most likely come later on but there is a recognition that the ambitious of the com the Ambitions of the Communist Chinese are threat to free people everywhere to include America's interests in the Pacific and it makes a lot of sense just just in a common sense way uh to use our comparative advantages European countries spending here in defense of this continent in defense of allies here against an aggressor on this continent with ambitions that strikes me as the right place to in and I don't

say that in a condescending way I say that in a common sense practical way investing in defense on the continent makes sense we support that as well it also makes sense comparatively and geographically for the United States along with allies in the Pacific like Japan and South Korea and Phil the Philippines and Australia and others to also invest in allies and partners and capabilities in the Pacific to project power there in service of deterrence that deterrent effect in the Pacific is one that really can only be led by the United States we wish we could

lead everywhere at all times we will stand in solidarity with allies and partners and encourage everyone to invest in order to have Force multiplication of what we represent but it requires realistic conversations those with disingenuous motives in the media I don't mean to look at you just saying anyone that suggests its abandonment are trying to drive a wedge between allies that does not exist we are committed to that NATO alliance we understand the importance of that partnership but it can't endure on the status quo forever in light of the threats we face and fiscal realities

Europe has to spend more NATO has to spend more has to invest more and we're very encouraged by what the Secretary General has said and frankly by behind closed doors what a lot of our allies have said as well acknowledging that reality and that's why when I say make NATO great again uh it's what president Trump set out to do in 2017 the Press said president Trump is abandoning NATO he's turning his back on our NATO allies that's what that's what the headlines read in 2017 and 2018 what actually happened that tough tough conversation created

even more investment to the point where now almost every NATO country is meeting the 2% goal that was said to be egregious when he first said it now European countries are stepping up and president Trump continues to Ring the Alarm Bell that even more investment is required considering where we are uh so suggestions of Abandonment otherwise continue to be disingenuous uh and we we are proud to be part of this Alliance and stand by I I'll take a couple more sure why don't we take one from a US outlet and one from an international outlet

with the US Outlet pardon me sir uh what we're going to take uh from the US is Logan rtic from Newsmax please you talked about expanding the uh defense industrial base uh and also uh Expediting foreign military sales can you expand on that a little bit and how important that is to Nato well one of the self-evident um conclusions of the of the war in Ukraine was the underinvestment that both European continent and America has had unfortunately in the defense industrial base the ability to produce Munitions uh emerging Technologies rapidly and fielded them uh was

a blind spot exposed through the aggression against Ukraine uh Ukraine has responded to that as we've had a chance to listen to a great deal uh Europe is responding to that and so is America we have to do more to ensure whether you call it the Arsenal for democracy or defending the Free World if America can't build and Export and build and provide rapid capabilities because we're too stale or static or bureaucratic or the Pentagon is bloated um then we're not able to feel build the systems we need in the future so deep and dramatic

reforms are coming at the defense department with the leadership of President Trump to ensure that we're investing robustly in our defense industrial base a great example is ship building we need to vastly increase our ability to build ships and submarines not just for ourselves but to honor obligations to our allies as well and and we will do that foreign military sales is another thing I mentioned this morning with the Secretary General um we have for for a long time been the country by with and through that our allies are able to supply major platforms and

Weapons Systems like the F35 and the Patriots and others whatever the system is we need to reform that process so it's quicker so a request today isn't delivered seven years from now but three years from now with less red tape and with the most efficient and effective technology possible we hear that from our allies and that's part of being a good faith partner is we're going to invest in our defense industrial base we're going to make make sure foreign military sales are as rapid as possible which again is a force multiplier for American power uh

which is something we want to do in a contested world for our final question we'll go to an international Outlet the Japanese service NHK with suio sug please SAA from NHK the Japanese TV station thank you very much I'd like to ask about uh China as you have mentioned that uh us will be prioritizing in detering China what will you be expecting uh with Japan and ip4 countries to play in this context sure I mean first of all I would point out that President Trump has expressed a strong relationship with XII ping uh we don't

have an inevitable desire to clash with China there's a recognition that there are uh Divergent interests which lead to a need for strength on the American side to ensure our interests are Advanced and that ultimately any aggression is deterred uh that's a real thing but we don't feel like conf is inevitable and certainly don't seek conflict with China and that's why president Trump has uh that good relationship with shui pain but it was prudent for us to work with allies and partners in the Pacific to ensure that that deterrent hard powered deterrent uh not just

reputational but reality exists and that's why a lot of my first phone calls as Secretary of Defense were to Pacific allies to Australia uh to Japan to South Korea to the Philippines and others and will continue um because that just as this Alliance uh in Europe is critical working by with and through allies and partners in that region who understand the reality of the the ascended Chinese threat will be critical uh it can't be America alone it won't be America alone if we are to deter that um so it's it is a focus I've articulated

that from day one uh America achieves strength whether it's in this in in in peace through uh the Ukrainian conflict or deterring it uh in the Pacific through strength there's a reason why Donald Trump emphasizes peace through strength at every moment my job my job alone as the secretary of defense is to ensure he has the strongest most capable most lethal military possible heaven forbid we have to use it it's meant and built for deterrence but if we have to we can close with and destroy our enemies and bring our men and women home uh

with success as quickly as possible uh thank you very much for being here thank you