US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the NATO 3.0 initiative, Europe’s defense spending and the defense industrial infrastructure of the two countries. At the end of the meeting, the two ministers signed an agreement aimed at aligning defense procurement processes.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting at the Pentagon, Hegseth said a strong step would be taken to advance defense industrial cooperation between the United States and Germany. Hegseth described NATO 3.0 as a comprehensive effort aimed at strengthening the alliance’s military capabilities and defense production while shifting greater responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense to European allies.
Europe’s defense responsibility
Hegseth recalled that he had announced at the NATO meeting held in Brussels in June that a six-month review would be conducted concerning the deployment of US troops in Europe. At the same meeting, he had called on NATO allies to increase defense spending and reduce their dependence on US military support.
Hegseth said Germany was approaching the 5 percent target under its defense spending commitment at the Hague Summit, adding that increasing spending was only the first step.
Pistorius said Germany supported Europe taking greater responsibility for NATO’s conventional defense. Pistorius said Germany was strengthening its defense capabilities and acting as a driving force in Europe, adding that he wanted European countries to assume part of the burden carried by the United States. Pistorius said they aimed to transfer primary responsibility for conventional deterrence in Europe to European countries.
Agreement on procurement processes
The agreement signed by Hegseth and Pistorius aims to align the US Department of Defense’s procurement transformation strategy with Germany’s Procurement Acceleration Act.
Hegseth said this alignment could create new opportunities in joint development, production, licensed manufacturing, maintenance and sustainment.
