Pentagon urges France to bolster Europe's defence strategy
Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth met with the French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and urged France, along with other allies, to assume a leading role in the conventional defence of Europe, as reported by the US Department of Defense.
What do you need to know?
- Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth met with the French Defence Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, to discuss issues pertaining to the defence of Europe.
- Hegseth encouraged France to increase its defence spending and take more significant responsibility for Europe's conventional defence.
- The meeting coincided with discussions in Paris concerning the war in Ukraine, attended by representatives from the USA, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
During the meeting at the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth stressed the importance for France, and other NATO allies, to enhance their commitment to Europe's conventional defence. The communiqué issued after the meeting stated that Secretary Hegseth urges France to boost its defence expenditure and, alongside other NATO members, take the lead role in ensuring Europe’s conventional defence.
Why is the USA changing its role in Europe?
Hegseth reiterated his previous remarks, first made during a visit to Europe. He highlighted that the United States will no longer serve as the "primary guarantor of security in Europe." This stance is part of a broader US strategy that involves a greater involvement of European allies in the continent's defence.
The discussions also addressed "efforts towards a lasting peace in Ukraine."
The meeting at the Pentagon coincided with talks in Paris, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as representatives from the United Kingdom and Germany. The discussions centred on negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.
