Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the media today regarding the Department of Defense's (DOD) force posturing priorities in Europe and Africa. This discussion took place during his visit to the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) in Stuttgart, Germany.
When queried about the significance of his visit to Africom as his first overseas trip, Secretary Hegseth emphasized the growing threat posed by China on the African continent. He described China's intentions as "pernicious," affecting not only their region but also having implications for Africa. The U.S., along with its allies and partners, intends to maintain a strategic posture in Africa to counteract this influence.
Besides monitoring China's activities, Secretary Hegseth highlighted the importance of countering the ongoing terror threat in Africa. He cited the February 1, 2025, airstrikes against ISIS targets in Somalia as an example of Africom's coordinated efforts with the Federal Government of Somalia. This operation exemplifies the DOD's strategy of returning tactical decision-making authority to senior military commanders.
During his visit to U.S. European Command, Secretary Hegseth stated that there are currently no plans to shift U.S. forces from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region despite the emerging threats from China. He assured that global force posturing would be continuously reviewed, with a focus on peacefully ending the war in Ukraine and encouraging European NATO countries to increase their defense spending.
Hegseth emphasized that any future adjustments to the U.S. force posture in Europe should not be interpreted as an abandonment of America's allies. He clarified, "America is smart to observe, plan, prioritize, and project power to deter conflict." Hegseth reiterated that maintaining strength and a strategy of "peace through strength" is crucial for deterrence.
Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to travel to Brussels to attend the NATO Defense Ministerial and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting. At the NATO ministerial, Hegseth will engage with allies to discuss the need to boost defense spending, enhance European leadership, and expand the defense industrial base capacity across the Atlantic.
During the UDCG meeting, Secretary Hegseth plans to reaffirm President Donald J. Trump's commitment to diplomatically resolving the war in Ukraine. He will also emphasize the necessity for increased European leadership in providing security assistance to Ukraine. Hegseth stated, "The urgency of this moment requires friends talking to friends about capabilities, leadership, stepping up, burden sharing, and ensuring the European continent remains free from aggression."
