June 5, 2025 Hegseth, NATO Leader Find Common Ground on Defense Spending Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte both stated an increase in defense spending targets — by both the U.S. and NATO ally countries — is essential to deterring threats posed by anti-Western aggressors.
April 9, 2025 Hegseth Says U.S. Partnering With Panama to Secure Canal, Deter China Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an expanded partnership between the U.S. and Panama to secure the Panama Canal in order to counter "China's maligned influence" in the region.
Feb. 13, 2025 Hegseth Tells NATO Hard Power Provides Deterrence, Defense Following a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that America's allies must do more to defend Europe.