US criticizes Europe over defense spend at NATO summit
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged European allies to increase military spending to 3.5% of GDP during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. European officials responded by emphasizing their commitment to regional security and the ongoing acceleration of independent defense investments.
United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized European allies over low military spending during a security summit in Singapore over the weekend. The friction follows Washington's proposal to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, announced in May, as it pressures allies to hit a 3.5% GDP defense spending target. The U.S. has repeatedly accused European governments of underinvesting in their militaries and relying too heavily on American protection.
