IRIA News

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania at the Pentagon to discuss NATO defense priorities, regional security, and transatlantic cooperation.

The meeting comes after the NATO summit in The Hague, where member states pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Hegseth described the gathering as a show of unity and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO.

“Together we’re achieving peace through strength in Europe by setting the conditions for negotiated lasting peace in Ukraine, establishing sustainable deterrence, and increasing ally capabilities and interoperability,” he said at a joint press conference with Estonian Minister Hanno Pevkur, Latvian Minister Andris Spruds, and Lithuanian Minister Dovile Sakaliene.

All three Baltic countries pledged to meet the 5% GDP defense spending goal ahead of schedule. Pevkur said Estonia will exceed 5% next year and beyond. “We will continue to push other allies to do the same so that Europe and Canada will bear a fair burden with the United States,” he said.

Defense Minister Sakaliene said Lithuania has already reached over 4% this year and will cross 5% soon. “We made a bold decision,” she said, calling on other NATO allies to follow. She highlighted Lithuania’s investments in U.S. defense systems, including HIMARS, Black Hawk helicopters, Switchblade munitions, and Javelin missiles.

Yesterday, we welcomed Minister Pevkur from Estonia, Minister Sprüds from Latvia, and Minister Sakaliené from Lithuania to the Pentagon.

We discussed President Trump's historic success in bringing the NATO alliance together behind the 5% defense spending pledge at the Hague… pic.twitter.com/uXBj8tmiO1

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) July 26, 2025

Latvia’s Spruds said defense expenditure is taken “very seriously” in Riga and added, “Russia is a long-term threat. We should support Ukraine, but we fully realize it’s not just about Europe. It’s also about the Indo-Pacific. It’s about wider global stability.”

Baltic military modernization

Hegseth praised the Baltic states’ investments and said their efforts were vital for deterrence. “Your efforts to modernize and invest in new military capabilities are critical to deterring attacks and building readiness,” he said.

The U.S. defense secretary thanked them for hosting multinational training exercises and for working with deployed U.S. HIMARS teams to improve readiness ahead of receiving their systems. “This cooperation accelerates our ability to defend countries with capable systems,” he added.

Hegseth also noted the importance of building stronger defense industrial bases across NATO to match increased spending. “The commitment by allies to 5% defense spending will make NATO stronger, more sustainable, and more lethal,” he said.

Shared responsibility and collective defense

The defense ministers emphasized shared responsibility for European security. “While Europe is ready to take on greater responsibility, the U.S. role in deterrence remains crucial,” said Pevkur. He described the meeting as a testament to the strong and trusted partnership between the Baltic states and the United States.

Latvian Defense Minister Spruds said the principle of collective defense under Article 5 remains central to NATO. “In these challenging times, it is important that we become much more efficient and lethal,” he said.

Sakaliene added that U.S. troops in Lithuania are seen as “family.” She called on American companies to invest in Lithuania’s defense industry, noting the country offers 0% corporate tax, green corridors, and modern tech infrastructure. “Boosting our defense industry is a priority,” she said.

Support for Ukraine featured prominently in the meeting. Sakaliene praised the U.S. decision to send arms to Ukraine, with NATO funding. “Lithuania is ready to contribute to buying Patriots for Ukraine produced by the United States,” she said. Latvia and Estonia echoed the need to sustain assistance to Ukraine and counter Russia’s long-term threat.

Broader transatlantic coordination

According to the Pentagon’s readout, the meeting reflected a shared strategic view of the European security environment. Hegseth reiterated that Europe must take primary responsibility for its own conventional defense, allowing the U.S. to balance commitments in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere.

The discussions at the Pentagon highlighted alignment between the Baltic states and Washington on defense investment, industrial cooperation, and military readiness. Hegseth thanked the Baltic countries for their leadership and commitment, calling them vital partners in NATO’s mission.