On Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted an enhanced honor cordon and a quadrilateral meeting at the Pentagon, welcoming the defense ministers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The gathering brought together Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds, and Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, underscoring the strong ties among the Baltic states and their commitment to regional security.
During the meeting, the Baltic representatives reaffirmed their commitment to NATO by pledging to meet a defense spending target of 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a significant step that Hegseth noted serves as a reminder to the entire NATO alliance of its responsibilities. He expressed gratitude to the Baltic nations for their friendship and support of U.S. troops, praising their leadership and commitment to shared security.
“The United States remains fully committed to NATO,” Hegseth stated. “Together, we’re achieving peace through strength in Europe while establishing conditions for a lasting peace in Ukraine, enhancing deterrence, and improving ally capabilities and interoperability.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur, Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds and Lithuanian Minister of Defense Dovilė Šakalienė walk together before a quadrilateral exchange at the Pentagon, July 25, 2025. © Air Force Staff Sgt. Madelyn Keech, DOD
Acknowledging the myriad obligations the U.S. faces globally, including homeland defense and deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific region, Hegseth stressed that European investment in defense is more critical than ever. “Your efforts to modernize and invest in new military capabilities are vital to deterring attacks and enhancing readiness.”
He also commended the Baltic states for hosting multinational training exercises that bolster collective readiness and highlighted the role of U.S. military systems in this joint effort. “I’m also glad that our deployed HIMARS have been able to assist your troops in training for your own HIMARS equipment,” he remarked, referring to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
PeVkur emphasized the significance of the meeting, describing it as a testament to the robust partnership between the Baltic states and the United States. “We are allies who are willing to strengthen our common defense, and we are determined to continue this very close cooperation. We stand up for one another, and we defend each other when it’s needed. This is what brotherhood-in-arms truly means,” he said.
Sprūds echoed this sentiment, noting the importance of efficiency and readiness in today’s challenging geopolitical landscape. He reaffirmed NATO’s collective defense principle as established in Article 5.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a quadrilateral exchange with Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur, Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds and Lithuanian Minister of Defense Dovilė Šakalienė at the Pentagon, July 25, 2025. © Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiko Bongolan, DOD
Šakalienė expressed a heartfelt commitment to U.S. troops, stating, “Every one — every single one — of United States troops is one of our own in Lithuania. We care deeply about our friendship, and we consider them family.” She urged other NATO nations to follow the Baltic states’ example and increase their defense investments to meet the 5% GDP military spending goal.
Highlighting Lithuania’s investment efforts, she noted that the country has procured U.S.-made defense systems, including HIMARS, Black Hawk helicopters, Switchblade loitering munitions, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, and Javelin missiles.
The meeting served not only as a reaffirmation of commitments but also as a demonstration of the ongoing collaboration among NATO allies aimed at enhancing security and preparedness in Europe.
