US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said the UK and other Nato allies committed to increase military spending “after decades of riding on the American taxpayer” because President Donald Trump demanded it.
Speaking at his first news conference in six months, Mr Hegseth highlighted the shift among alliance members in Europe from “being a burden” to sharing the financial load, as he defended the administration's record against an impeachment effort in Congress.
Impeachment bid called 'sabotage'
Mr Hegseth sought to portray the move on Capitol Hill to formally charge him with “high crimes and misdemeanours” as an attack on troops themselves, branding it an act of “sabotage”. He argued that putting him on trial would lead to the prosecution of “the men and women who carried out those orders tomorrow”.
The impeachment resolution, proposed by representative Thomas Massie, who will leave Congress after losing the Republican primary race in May, largely focuses on the war in Iran, but also includes references to Mr Hegseth's role in military actions in Yemen and Venezuela, as well as the lethal targeting of alleged drug-running vessels.
Burden sharing and Nato spending
Mr Hegseth pointed to the Nato commitment as he hit back at the impeachment threat. He said: “Our Nato allies, after decades of riding on the American taxpayer in Europe, committed to 5% of GDP for their own defence.”
He added: “Our allies are finally stepping up. Out with being a burden, in with burden sharing. Why? Because President Trump demanded it.”
The UK and other Nato countries committed last year to hike defence spending to 5% of economic output by 2035 in the face of demands by Mr Trump and threats from Russia and China.
President Trump's support
Mr Hegseth's robust remarks earned praise from Mr Trump following the news conference. The president wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Pete Hegseth gets an 'A' PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defence against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!”
Mr Hegseth, a former Fox News presenter, is a divisive figure in Washington. He recently sought to diminish the role played by America's coalition allies during the Afghanistan war, which cost the lives of 457 UK personnel, leading to a slapdown by Downing Street. He has also previously mocked the Royal Navy and accused fellow Nato members of “free-riding”.
Mr Hegseth condemned the push to impeach him as “a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment”. He said: “Time for one man's final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president, this country, and most irresponsibly the warriors who defend it. It's a farce, and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it.”
He argued the concerns raised were “policy disagreements, not high crimes, not misdemeanours, not treason, not bribery, not the kinds of offenses the founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause”. He said: “The proper remedy for a policy disagreement, it's legislation, it's debate, it's the next presidential election.”
Mr Hegseth insisted he has done nothing wrong and that he “would do it again tomorrow”. He said: “Put the secretary on trial today, and the men and women who carried out those orders tomorrow. If they want to come for the warriors, they're going to have to come through me.”
