“NO FREELOADING”
Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has demanded that allies boost defence spending and has pointedly said European and NATO partners should reduce reliance on Washington.
“The era of the United States subsidising the defence of wealthy nations is over,” Hegseth said.
“We need partners, not protectorates,” he added. “We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”
Hegseth praised contributions from allies including South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking concrete steps to bolster its defences.
Tokyo and Washington “must each pull our weight to strengthen the US-Japan alliance,” he said.
