On June 6, during a visit to France for the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with French Defense Minister Catherine Colonna. Hegseth emphasized that NATO allies should bear primary responsibility for conventional defense on the European continent.
According to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, both sides discussed the urgent need for NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP, expand their defense industrial base, and deploy reliable forces capable of actual combat to take on the main responsibility for conventional defense in Europe.
They also agreed that NATO should transition from being an alliance of dependent nations to one of substantive partners, referred to as 'NATO 3.0.'
In a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery, Hegseth reiterated the need for allies to expand their defense responsibilities. He stated, "As we face an increasingly complex threat environment, we are applying the lessons learned on this beach 82 years ago. A strong alliance that fully fulfills its respective roles wins wars."
He added, "Peace is secured only through strength, and that strength must be present on both sides of the Atlantic, reinforced by readiness, shared military capabilities, and unwavering political will." Hegseth emphasized that while the U.S. will continue to lead Western security, capable allies must also step up alongside the U.S. in critical moments.
This message suggests that European nations should no longer rely solely on the U.S. and must take a more prominent role in conventional defense. It also reflects frustrations from the Trump administration regarding European allies' passive stance during the conflict with Iran.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last month, Hegseth warned that "allies who refuse to actively contribute to our collective defense will face a clear change in how we operate."
The Trump administration has recently indicated plans to reduce U.S. troop levels and key conventional forces stationed in Europe, raising the possibility of NATO withdrawal due to European allies' reluctance to support military action against Iran.
Europe Considers EU Membership Amid Security Concerns
As concerns grow that the U.S. security umbrella may be weakening, there is an increasing movement in Europe to reconsider or pursue EU membership. Currently, nine countries are formal candidates for EU membership: Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, and Turkey.
Additionally, Nordic countries, which previously felt less urgency to join the EU due to their higher economic levels and fishing rights issues, are showing signs of change.
Iceland, which froze its EU membership negotiations in 2013, plans to hold a referendum on August 29 to ask citizens whether to resume those talks.
Norway, which rejected EU membership in referendums in 1972 and 1994, is also revisiting the discussion. Ine Eriksen Søreide, leader of Norway's Conservative Party, stated in a March interview with Politico that, given the geopolitical situation with threats from Russia and conflicts in the Middle East, "becoming a full member of the EU is the most beneficial for Norway." Recently, voices within the ruling party have also begun to emphasize the need for EU membership.
In the UK, which voted to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, discussions about rejoining have resurfaced. Growing public sentiment reflects the economic losses and diminished international influence experienced since Brexit.
In the wake of the Labour Party's defeat in local elections, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his intention to run for party leader, advocating that the Labour Party should pledge to rejoin the EU in the next general election. He described Brexit as a "catastrophic mistake," arguing that it has left the UK "weaker and poorer than it has been since the Industrial Revolution" and has resulted in a loss of control.
However, the current Labour government has drawn a line against rejoining the EU or returning to the single market and customs union, opting instead to pursue a closer cooperative relationship with the EU to redefine post-Brexit ties.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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