Pentagon chief Hegseth arrives at NATO, calls for more 'lethal' alliance
Photo: Hughes arrives at NATO Headquarters (x.com/SecDef)
On Wednesday, February 12, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where he made a statement on the role of the Alliance, according to Hegseth on X.
"Our commitment is clear: NATO must be a stronger, more lethal force — not a diplomatic club. Time for allies to meet the moment," the new Pentagon chief stated.
Hegseth has already met with British Defense Secretary John Healey in Brussels.
Photo: Hegseth and Healy meet in front of Ramstein (Johanna Geron/AP)
Today, NATO headquarters in Brussels will host a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format. This will mark the 26th gathering of allies.
For the first time, the Ramstein meeting will not be led by the United States but by the United Kingdom. It is also the first Ukraine defense meeting following Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Pete Hegseth’s appointment as US Secretary of Defense.
Ramstein meeting
Ukraine will be represented at the meeting by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who has already arrived in Brussels.
According to Umerov, the agenda will include timely military aid deliveries, strengthening air defense, supplying ammunition and aircraft, as well as discussions on expanding defense production both in Ukraine and abroad.
More details on Ramstein and what to expect for Ukraine can be found in RBC-Ukraine’s report.
