Pete Hegseth, the proposed Secretary of Defense under Donald Trump, has made numerous critical comments about international organizations, NATO, and various global issues. He has been outspoken against the United Nations, NATO, and other countries, particularly criticizing Turkey and its perceived Islamist character.

In two books published in 2020 and 2024, Hegseth criticized the United Nations and NATO, claiming that they were anti-American and that the U.S. should no longer be bound by international conventions like the Geneva Conventions regarding civilian casualties and prisoners of war. He argued that American soldiers should be “relentless, uncompromising, and utterly lethal” to win wars by their own rules. Hegseth also expressed his support for strengthening ties between the U.S. and Israel, saying that “if you love America, you love Israel.”

In his writings, Hegseth questioned why “Islamist Turkey” was a member of NATO and claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly dreams of resurrecting the Ottoman Empire. He also argued that NATO was not truly a military alliance, but rather a defense arrangement for Europe that was financially supported by the U.S.

Hegseth, once a proponent of neoconservative foreign policy, has since “converted” under Trump’s influence and now opposes international institutions, advocating for a more isolationist and American-centric approach. He has even raised questions like “Why are we funding the anti-American UN?” and derided the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for not fighting as aggressively as the U.S.

Further, he has promoted views such as the “Great Replacement” theory and criticized European countries for their handling of illegal immigration, suggesting that they rely on the U.S. to fight their wars.

Hegseth also described the U.N. as a “completely globalist organization” that aggressively promotes an agenda against the U.S., Israel, and freedom. He linked the U.S.-Israel alliance to the Crusades, suggesting that Christians and Jews must defend themselves against global threats.

Notably, Hegseth has a large tattoo with the Latin phrase “Deus vult,” meaning “God wills it,” which was used by the Crusaders.

In summary, Hegseth advocates for a more American-centric approach to U.S. foreign policy, critical of international alliances like NATO and organizations like the U.N., and strongly supportive of the U.S.-Israel relationship.