US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Trains with Marines Before First NATO Meeting | US News
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has shared images of himself working out alongside American marines in Germany in preparation for his inaugural NATO meeting this week.
In his social media posts, Mr. Hegseth was seen in a sweat-soaked navy t-shirt engaged in running and weightlifting exercises, along with a group photo featuring a battalion stationed at Panzer Kaserne, located near Stuttgart.
On a post shared on X, he remarked: “Strength equals readiness. I started the day with PT together with the warriors of 1/10 SFG.”
“No bureaucracy [sic] – just sharp minds, strong bodies, and a mission-first mindset.”
The defense secretary’s itinerary includes a week-long visit to Germany, Belgium, and Poland, aiming to “bolster deterrence, assist warfighters, and advance American national security objectives,” as stated by his department.
In addition to training with the marines, he is scheduled to visit the US European Command and the US Africa Command in Germany to meet with senior military officials.
Mr. Hegseth will then participate in NATO discussions in Brussels.
“During his first NATO Ministerial alongside Allied partners, he will connect with NATO Allies and partners to address the necessity of increasing Allied defense spending, enhancing European leadership, and expanding the defense industrial base’s capacity on both sides of the Atlantic,” the defense department mentioned in its advisory.
Pete Hegseth testifying before a Senate Committee last month. Pic: Reuters
At a meeting of NATO’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Mr. Hegseth “will reaffirm President Trump’s commitment to achieving a diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine as swiftly as possible.”
“He will also emphasize the urgency for enhanced European leadership in providing security assistance to Ukraine,” the statement elaborated.
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His last stop will be in Poland, where he will meet with Polish leaders and US troops stationed there.
Donald Trump and his administration have consistently criticized NATO at a time when border security and immigration are anticipated priorities for the US military, as per officials.
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Mr. Trump believes NATO allies should allocate at least 5% of their national income to their military expenditures – Sir Keir Starmer’s government has yet to announce when it anticipates UK defense spending will rise to 2.5% from around 2.3%.
Mr. Hegseth’s selection for the defense secretary role was also considered controversial.
The 44-year-old former veteran and previous Fox News host narrowly attained the top Pentagon position, with Vice President JD Vance casting the 51-50 tie-breaking vote.
He faced accusations regarding his competence for the position and had been heavily criticized for a range of past statements and actions, including allegations of sexual assault – which he has rejected – excessive alcohol consumption, and disparaging views about women in military combat roles.
