NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a media conference after a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/)

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on the eve of a NATO defence ministers' meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 12,

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has trained with U.S. Marines in Germany ahead of his first NATO meeting. Hegseth is currently on a week-long trip that includes visits to Germany, Belgium and Poland, after he narrowly made it through the Senate 's confirmation process in which Vice President JD Vance had to cast a tie-breaking vote.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths first overseas trip stirred controversy, particularly in Europe, due to his remarks on Ukraine and NATO, but earned praise from President Donald Trump. During his visit to Belgium,

Sweden's Defense Minister Pal Jonson speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Harry

Speaking at a NATO meeting in Belgium, the defense secretary said the U.S. would no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship with its allies.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on the eve of a NATO defence ministers' meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 12,

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a news conference after a meeting with NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Belgium.

Spain, Germany and Belgium would face the biggest public-finance hit among European Union countries if NATO raised its defense spending target by a percentage point, according to Scope Ratings.

Hegseth made the initial comment during a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, clearly stating that the U.S. "does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is "unrealistic." He also cast doubt on Ukraine's NATO membership prospects and suggested that Kyiv should consider a negotiated settlement with Russia backed by an international peacekeeping force.

In addition to procuring more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, Belgium will acquire A400M freighters, a helicopter fleet, and armed drones. In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO members have beefed up their defense budgets in order to ensure the international alliance’s deterrence and defense capabilities.