Pete Hegseth, the War Secretary in the Trump administration, renewed his attack today on Washington’s European allies, accusing them of having ignored calls to strengthen their own defense “for far too long” and urging them to “stop lecturing.”

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth also warned that “important decisions” are coming regarding security in Europe.

He praised Asian countries, which he said have long understood that the key to a sustainable partnership is not idealistic values, but the concrete convergence of national interests.

“Western Europe could learn a lesson”

“When our interests align, we act together with determination. When our interests diverge, we adapt with realism, without drama and without lecturing. I think Western Europe could learn a lesson,” Hegseth said.

Reiterating the Trump administration’s highly critical stance toward Europe, Hegseth accused European countries of having long embraced “empty globalist rhetoric about a rules-based international order, while European capitals opened their borders wide and hollowed out their armies.”

“Europe and NATO have important decisions to make, and you will hear about them soon,” he added.

Movement on European defense spending

“For too long, polite pleas to our European allies to spend more on their own defense fell on deaf ears. They are finally playing catch-up,” Hegseth said.

Donald Trump has demanded that Europeans shoulder more of the burden for European security. He has applied pressure – and ultimately secured a commitment – for NATO countries to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, while also intending to reduce the US military presence in Europe.

The atmosphere has grown heavier in recent weeks because of European countries’ refusal to support Trump in the war he launched against Iran without any consultation or prior briefing.