The Brussels Hub

 

QUESTION:  Good morning from the State Department’s Brussels Media Hub.  I would like to welcome everyone joining us for today’s virtual press briefing.  Today we are very honored to be joined by the – to be joined by Ambassador Matthew Whitaker, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO.  The ambassador is joining us from The Hague, where he has an incredibly busy schedule today.  We will try to get to as many of the numerous questions submitted as possible in the short time we have today.  Today’s briefing is on the record, and let’s get started.

Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us today.  I’ll turn it over to you for your opening remarks.

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Thank you.  Before I begin, I want to welcome Bridget, who is our new hub director.  As you know, we were supposed to do this call on Friday with John, so I did not have an opportunity to congratulate him on completing his tour.  So John, wherever you are, thank you for your service in Brussels, and welcome, Bridget.

So good afternoon, everyone.  Starting tomorrow, NATO leaders from all 32 Allies will gather in The Hague for a summit that marks a major milestone for our Alliance.  The summit will be historic.  This summit is really about NATO’s credibility, and we are urging all of our Allies to step up to the plate and pay their fair share for transatlantic security.

Thanks to the bold leadership of President Donald J. Trump, NATO is on track to achieve a historic commitment – each Ally pledging to spend at least 5 percent of their GDP on defense.  This commitment is more than just a number; it represents a renewal of NATO’s relevance, a rebalancing of the burden for our collective defense, and a clear signal that the Alliance stands united against today’s security challenges, from Russian aggression to emerging threats in cyber and space.

The 5 percent commitment is the single most important step NATO can take to ensure it remains strong and ready for the future.  But this commitment is just the beginning.  NATO is not only about defense; it is a powerful engine for prosperity and innovation.  Our shared investments help sustain and grow industries that support good-paying jobs, foster technological advancement, and build resilient supply chains across the Atlantic.

American innovation plays a key role in this partnership.  The U.S. is a global leader in software, AI, and autonomous systems – the technologies shaping the future of defense.  But we know innovation alone isn’t enough either.  We must work together to remove barriers, streamline acquisition, and deepen multinational cooperation so we can rapidly field cutting-edge capabilities that keep the Alliance ahead of any threat.

So as we prepare for the summit, we do so with confidence.  The commitments we make here will drive stronger defense, greater prosperity, and a more secure future for all NATO Allies and the 1 billion citizens that live within our territories.

So thank you and I look forward to your questions.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  We will now turn to the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  Our first question is from Alexander Bakker from De Telegraaf in the Netherlands, and the question is:  “It’s always special when the American president visits our country.  Will he visit other locations in the Netherlands beyond The Hague?  Also, how does the United States view the Netherlands’ role within NATO?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Well, thank you, and since I’m sitting here in your beautiful country in The Hague today, I just have to say that we have a strong relationship with our Dutch partners and friends and they’ve been wonderful hosts so far.  Obviously this is a big production to get 32 world leaders in one city, and security is going to be strong and the Dutch have really responded.  And at NATO, I guess as part of your question, the Dutch are a super important Ally, having met their obligations and they’ve becoming a leading voice in getting the Alliance to increase their defense investments.

And as we see increased defense spending, the Dutch tech sector opens a world of opportunities to showcase innovation and it kind of – I have to say it because I work with them on a daily basis, but obviously Mark Rutte, who is our secretary general, being a Dutchman is a very critical part of this Alliance as well.

So the Netherlands is, I think, really the heart and soul of this Alliance along with our 31 Allies that are all pulling in the same direction as we head into this summit here in The Hague.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  Our second question is from Kysia Hekster from NOS in the Netherlands, and the question is:  “Will the United States support language in the communique identifying Russia as the main threat to the Alliance?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Well, thanks for your question.  Negotiations regarding the communique are still underway, so I’m not going to be able to comment directly on the specific language.  But as I said during our last hub call, I fully expect that the summit statement will be direct, to the point, and reflect the Allies’ current threat assessment and the need for collective defense and the individual defense of all Allies.  But it is undeniable the reason we are so focused on increasing defense investment to 5 percent is because of Russia and the long-term threat Russia poses to NATO’s security.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  We have two questions that are focused on timelines.  So the first is from Bibiana Piene from NTB in Norway, and Bibiana’s question is:  “What is the U.S. position regarding the timeline for Allies to achieve the 5 percent defense spending target?”  And another similar question came in from Bruno Waterfield from The Times in Belgium, and Bruno’s question is:  “What should the deadline for the 5 percent target be: 2032 or 2035?  What is your response to countries such as the United Kingdom that prefer a later date?”  Thank you, Ambassador.

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Yeah.  Well, both great questions, and this has obviously been a critical discussion point as we’ve been trying to get an agreement among all 32 Allies.  And the timeline, quite frankly, is as soon as practical.  Our adversaries have a vote here, and so we have to balance a sense of urgency with what’s realistic.  President Trump has called on all Allies to increase their defense spending because he understands the threats we face.  Allies will need to show meaningful progress on increasing their defense budgets to meet the challenge.

There’s no – there’s not an unlimited timeframe here.  Our adversaries will not wait for us to be ready.  And so we would expect meaningful and credible growth from Allies in their defense budgets year on year.  We must be prepared to deter any threats or challenges to make sure that our deterrence and defense is strong and we have peace through strength.

We also recognize that it will take time for our defense industry to turn this increased spending into real capabilities.  We are working with our industry partners to undertake this transformational moment.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  Our next question is from Henry Foy here in Belgium, who’s with the Financial Times, and Henry’s question is:  “How does President Trump intend to ensure that other leaders follow through on the 5 percent defense spending commitment?  How will the United States prevent this from becoming another – an empty promise?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Well, first and foremost, Allies submit – will submit regular reports on defense spending so we can all track each other’s progress and hold each other to account.  NATO also regularly reviews our military requirements and readiness levels, and we have successfully used these tools over the past years to press Allies to reach the old 2 percent commitment.  With the stakes even higher now, I would expect Allies to be even more vigilant in holding each other accountable for year-on-year progress, and certainly it will be at the top of the U.S. agenda with NATO Allies in the coming years.

This – I just want to say this historic moment in the Alliance is going to require all 32 Allies committed to doing more, to really making sure that Europe, the transatlantic security area, including the United States and Canada, is strong and ready for the next fight.  And as I mentioned previously, adversaries – whether it’s Russia or whether it is the Chinese, the Iranians, or the North Koreans, or anyone that wants to threaten our values and our way of life – is going to have to understand that NATO is serious, that we are investing every single year to get stronger, and that strength is what is going to ensure peace for generations to come.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  Our next question is from Kjeld Neubert, also here in Belgium, from Euractiv, and the question is:  “From the United States perspective, what should be included under the 1.5 percent in defense-related spending?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  It’s a great question.  And remember, this 5 percent does have two components.  It has a 3.5 percent component that is hardcore defense – tanks, airplanes, battleships – but the – then there’s also 1.5 of defense-related spending.  And it’s – again, as I mentioned on previous hub calls, this is not a grab bag that everybody can just throw additional spending into, but it’s crucial things like infrastructure that enables military mobility.  We can have the best tanks in the world – and we do.  I was in Ohio, where I saw the General Dynamics plant in Lima, Ohio, where those tanks are rolling off, the Abrams tanks.  But if you can’t get those tanks to the front lines because of the roads or bridges or rail can’t handle those tanks and their weight, then obviously they’re worthless not being deployed to the front.

Additionally, the 1.5 percent of the overall 5 percent enables Allies to face the realities of a ever-evolving and changing security environment.  For example, as we see more challenges in the cyber domain and hybrid threats, increased spending on resilience and cybersecurity will be crucial.  Because as I mentioned I think on the last hub call, the first shot of the next war will be a cyber attack, or an attack on critical infrastructure.  It won’t be a tank rolling across someone’s border on the – of NATO.

And finally, we need to invest significantly in our industrial bases across the Alliance.  Without more production capacity, we will not be able to turn increased spending into real capabilities.

MODERATOR:  Thank you very much, Ambassador.  Our next question is from Evaldas Labanauskas, also here in Belgium, from IQ magazine.  And the question is:  “Lithuania and other eastern flank countries are calling for the Hague investment plan to be implemented by 2030.  What is the U.S. position on the timeline?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Yeah, well, our Allies on the eastern flank understand better than anyone that our adversaries – for example, especially Russia – have a vote in their ability to reconstitute in a short timeframe, whether that’s two or five years from now, after their – as a ceasefire or a peace in Ukraine is going to certainly drive this timeline.  President Trump is pushing for a clear, credible plan to reach 5 percent defense investment across NATO.  We can’t repeat the Wales Pledge mistake where spending only spiked late in the decade.  And in fact, we’re in year 11 right now and some countries are finally getting to that.  For example, Canada is finally saying that maybe they’ll do 2 percent next year.  I mean, that is what we’re trying to avoid here with this new commitment.

And so Allies must boost their defense budget significantly and quickly.  This urgency isn’t coming from the United States.  It isn’t coming from Secretary General Rutte.  It’s driven by the growing threats we face and the rapid pace of our adversaries’ preparations for potential conflict.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  Next question is from Thomas Gutschker from F.A.Z. in Germany.  Thomas’ question is:  “When will the United States conclude its global posture review?  Will President Trump commit to synchronizing any future U.S. troop drawdowns in Europe with increased European defense capabilities?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  We expect that the Pentagon’s review will be completed late summer or early fall, but I would defer specific questions on the rollout to our friends at the Defense Department, in the Pentagon.  At NATO, we will work closely with the Pentagon and with our Allies to address the impact of any decisions.  These sorts of consultations are what NATO does every day, year-round.  And so we will work hand in glove with our European and Canadian Allies to make sure that there is no security gaps in the defense capabilities; to the extent that any are moved out by the U.S. of anywhere, that those will be replaced and ensured to be completed in an orderly and organized fashion.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  We have several questions that were all grouped together here for you.  The first is from Gabriel Dominguez from The Japan Times, and another is from a colleague also from The Japan Times.  The first question is:  “Washington has urged Indo-Pacific partners to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP but without a clear timeline.  Will the United States ask the IP4 countries to adopt a similar timeline as NATO Allies?”  And then the similar question is:  “Do you expect to raise the issue of increased defense spending with the IP4 nations during the NATO summit?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Well, we look forward to meeting with our Indo-Pacific partners here in The Hague, who are some of our most likeminded and capable NATO partners.  And with defense-industrial cooperation, resilient supply chains, threat assessments, they continue to be key areas that we have and will engage on.  Strong allies are capable allies.  We are closely coordinating with our allies in the Indo-Pacific to ensure they, too, are stepping up with their investments in the immediate term to deter and defend against our adversaries.  But you saw at the Shangri-La Dialogues, where Secretary Hegseth did suggest that they – that our Indo-Pacific partners and our allies in the Indo-Pacific need to get on a similar trajectory as our European and Canadian allies to dramatically increase spending, to ensure that the capability needed to fight the next war are obtained as quickly as possible, and to make sure that we are strong as an alliance and as allies.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  Our next question is from Oskar Gorzynski from the Polish Press Agency in Poland, and the question is:  “Do you still believe that Russia is negotiating in good faith regarding the war in Ukraine?  If so, why, given its continued bombing campaign and refusal to drop maximalist demands?”

AMBASSADOR WHITAKER:  Yeah, so this is – I’m going to – I’m going to have to do this as the last question.  I’m kind of running out of time, and I need to make a – go to the next event I have scheduled.  But to answer your question, Oskar, first of all, I want to join a lot of voices – both from the United States and worldwide – condemning Russia’s strikes on civilians and extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those effected, including an American who was recently killed in a Russian strike on Kyiv.  There’s no military solution to the Russia-Ukraine war, and a diplomatic solution is necessary.  The President supports any diplomatic mechanism that leads to a durable and lasting peace.

President Trump has stated that he is very disappointed at people being killed in the middle of negotiations.  We are calling for restraint and urge both parties to avoid escalation.  We are engaged at the highest levels and continue to support direct talks between Russia and Ukraine.  Constructive, good-faith dialogue is the only path to ending this war.  Like President Trump said to President Putin, we expect both Russia and Ukraine to come to the table with clear terms and a willingness to compromise.

I just want to thank everybody again for the time.  Sorry that I’m going to have to conclude this session.  And I’ll turn it back to you, Bridget, who has – you’ve done an incredible job hosting your first hub call.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador.  Thank you so much for squeezing us into your very busy schedule.  Thank you for answering these questions.  Thank you to our journalists for your questions and for your participation.  Shortly, we’ll send the audio recording of the briefing to all of the participants and provide a transcript.  We welcome your feedback.  Reach out to us if you have any suggestions for the future.  Thank you again for your participation.  We look forward to seeing you again for another press briefing soon.  And this ends today’s briefing.  Thank you.