US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has stated that NATO has long functioned as a "paper tiger" and a "one-way street," signaling a major shift in the alliance's operational philosophy.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing reports from a recent meeting of NATO defense ministers, Hegseth emphasized that alliance members must assume greater responsibility for their collective defense.
"Our allies must step up. NATO has been a paper tiger and a one-way street for too long. That will no longer be the case," the US Defense Secretary declared. He argued that increasing defense spending commitments is essential to transforming NATO back into a formidable military alliance.
Hegseth further elaborated on the "NATO 3.0" concept, stating, "There is no doubt that the goal is to transform NATO back into a true military alliance focused on hard power and real deterrence." The Pentagon chief added that the alliance is expected to play a more leading role in the traditional defense of Europe in the future.
NATO, established in 1949, has historically served as the primary transatlantic security framework. The push for "NATO 3.0" reflects ongoing debates within the alliance regarding burden-sharing, particularly the requirement for member states to meet the target of spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense, a standard that has gained renewed urgency under the current US administration led by President Donald Trump.
