US Defense Secretary Denies Concessions to Putin, Urges Europe to Act
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denies Trump has made concessions to Putin, urging European nations to increase defense spending during a NATO conference in Brussels.
In a firm rejection of the notion that President Donald Trump is making concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, new U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke out at a NATO conference in Brussels. Addressing criticisms regarding Trump’s approach towards Putin, Hegseth stated, “The theory that sitting at the table now, in one way or another, equates to outright concessions to Vladimir Putin, which a U.S. president should not make in any other way… I reject that theory.”
Hegseth emphasized that Putin is open to negotiations because he responds to strength and sees Trump as a strong opponent. “Any suggestion that President Trump is doing anything other than negotiating from a position of strength is a lie,” he added.
During the press conference at the NATO summit in Brussels on Thursday
Hegseth also stressed the need to restore the grandeur of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He called on European countries to ramp up their defense investments, highlighting, “We must restore the greatness of NATO”, and insisted that Europe should take responsibility for defending its continent.
However, Hegseth was clear in his stance that this does not mean America is abandoning Europe. He reiterated, “We’re not talking about America abandoning Europe,” while simultaneously pushing for Europe to play a more significant role in its own defense.
This statement from Hegseth comes at a time when the dynamics of U.S.-Russia relations, as well as the responsibilities within NATO, are under intense scrutiny. The dialogue underscores a complex interplay of diplomacy, military strategy, and international alliances, with each comment echoing through global politics and security considerations.
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