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NATO Military Chief Says Alliance Stable Despite Pentagon Tensions

NATO's top military official said Saturday that Europe is responding to U.S. defense spending demands and that the transatlantic relationship remains stable despite recent friction. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO's Military Committee, made the comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue Defense Summit in Singapore. The remarks come as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticized European NATO members for insufficient military contributions. Hegseth used the same forum to highlight the strategic importance of the Pacific region and noted stabilization in U.S.-China relations. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also addressed regional security concerns at the summit, emphasizing freedom of navigation through critical sea lanes. The U.S. is balancing competing security priorities between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.