Baltic: US Defence Secretary praises Baltics as “model allies”

The Baltic States will receive “special favour” from the United States in the future for being “model allies” who prioritise their own defence, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated, ERR reports. The three Baltic countries have pledged to allocate 5% of their GDP to defence over the coming years. Allies that “fail to do their part” for collective defence “will face consequences,” Hegseth said. He was speaking at an event where he outlined the new US National Security Strategy. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that he had received verbal confirmation that the US would not reduce its number of troops in the Baltic States.