BRUSSELS — On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided clarification on his earlier remarks regarding Ukraine's potential membership in NATO. Speaking at NATO headquarters, Hegseth left open the possibility of Ukraine joining the military alliance, a shift from his previous statement that U.S. officials did not see NATO membership for Kyiv as a "realistic outcome" in any peace agreement with Russia.
Hegseth's clarification appeared to be an attempt to quell the backlash from his initial remarks, which had sparked concerns both in Europe and in Washington. This came ahead of President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. was jump-starting negotiations to end the ongoing three-year war. However, shortly after, Trump stated at the White House that it was unlikely for Ukraine to join NATO given Russia’s current stance.
The president's comments came amid anxiety following his announcement that he had engaged in separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. These discussions aimed to secure a peace deal, with further talks planned for the upcoming week in Saudi Arabia.
During his Thursday remarks, Hegseth emphasized that "these negotiations are led by President Trump." He stated that any decisions regarding Ukraine's NATO membership are ultimately up to Trump, acknowledging the "hard-power realities on the ground."
Hegseth also addressed criticisms of Trump's diplomatic strategy, asserting that the president operates with a comprehensive understanding of the situation. He reiterated that his previous comments about NATO membership for Ukraine were based on likely scenarios and recognized geopolitical realities.
While signing an executive order on tariffs, Trump reiterated his position that Ukraine’s NATO membership would pose a direct security threat to Russia. He falsely claimed that the Ukraine conflict began because of President Joe Biden's stance on NATO.
NATO first declared in 2008 that Ukraine would eventually become a member, a position reaffirmed after Russia's 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. In 2018, Ukraine amended its constitution to prioritize NATO and EU membership as key foreign policy objectives.
In 2021, Russia demanded an end to NATO's military activities in Eastern Europe and permanently barred Ukraine from joining the alliance, demands that were refused by NATO and cited by Putin as reasons for the 2022 invasion.
NATO's commitment to its "Open Door Policy" was reaffirmed at a 2022 meeting in Brussels, allowing countries to join through unanimous consent. However, NATO slowed actions towards Ukrainian membership, indicating that such discussions would only proceed post-conflict and after addressing governance and corruption issues in Ukraine.
As the war continued, NATO agreed at its July 2023 summit to streamline Ukraine's steps toward membership, establishing bilateral security pacts to circumvent NATO's Article 5 mutual defense pact. President Biden noted the lack of unanimity on Ukraine’s membership amid the ongoing war.
In his Thursday comments, Trump suggested that Russia's suspension from the Group of Eight (G8) after its 2014 invasion of Crimea could have contributed to the current conflict. He expressed a desire for Russia's reintegration into the group, despite Moscow's permanent withdrawal in 2017.
Hegseth's remarks concluded a meeting of NATO defense ministers, who discussed the implications of Trump's negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. His earlier comments were perceived as potentially weakening Ukraine's position, despite Ukraine's unlikely near-term NATO membership.
Hegseth called for increased defense spending by NATO allies to strengthen Europe's collective security, emphasizing the importance of "hard power" in global affairs. He praised NATO as a "great" and "successful defense alliance" but called for reforms to "make NATO great again," echoing Trump's campaign slogan.
Hegseth referenced President Dwight D. Eisenhower's concerns about European nations' defense contributions, highlighting the U.S. administration's commitment to alliances while ensuring America is not taken advantage of.
The meeting underscored the balance of diplomatic engagement and defense strategy as NATO navigates its role in the Ukraine conflict and broader geopolitical dynamics.
