EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas responded to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's comments on European military spending at a Singapore defense forum Saturday, Politico reported on 31 May.
At the Singapore defense forum, Pete Hegseth pointed to Europe’s recent increases in military spending as a benchmark, urging Asian allies to match or exceed these efforts in light of the escalating threat from China. He reportedly argued that it is inconsistent for European nations to invest so heavily in defense while Asian allies, facing a more immediate threat, lag behind in their own military expenditures
"It's love nonetheless, so it's better than no love," Kallas told reporters when asked about Hegseth's criticism of Europe's defense investments.
Kallas described Hegseth's remarks as positive despite their critical tone. "You heard his speech. He was actually quite positive about Europe, so there's definitely some love there," she said.
Hegseth had told conference delegates that the US was "pushing our allies in Europe to own more of their own security — to invest in their defense." The defense secretary credited President Trump for European military improvements. "Thanks to President Trump, they are stepping up," Hegseth said. He praised Poland and the Baltic States as "model allies."
Kallas acknowledged divisions within Europe over military spending levels. "Some of us have realized a long time ago that we need to invest in defense," she said. The EU foreign policy chief described a shift in European thinking.
"The European Union has shifted gear and reimagined our own paradigm as a peace project backed up with hard defense," she said.
European countries formally adopted a €150 billion ($170 bn) military spending package earlier this week.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned earlier this week that Europe must avoid an "angry divorce" with the US. He said it was "almost unavoidable that we shall need to stand on our own two feet in defense matters in Europe, because Americans will more and more withdraw."
Kallas emphasized connections between European and Pacific security during her Singapore remarks.
"It is a good thing we are doing more, but what I want to stress is that the security of Europe and the security of the Pacific is very much interlinked," she said.
She also cited Chinese supplies to Russia and North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine as examples of this interconnection.
