US Defense Secretary’s budget cuts raise concerns over Ukraine support

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Pentagon to draft a plan reducing the defense budget by 8% annually over the next five years, sparking concerns about continued US support for Ukraine.

The directive, reported by The Washington Post, mandates the plan’s completion by February 24 and exempts 17 key areas from cuts, including border security operations, nuclear weapons modernization, air defense systems, and the procurement of submarines and kamikaze drones.

With the Pentagon’s 2025 budget at approximately $850 billion, these reductions could amount to tens of billions of dollars annually, marking the most significant decrease in defense spending since 2013.

Notably, the list of protected expenditures excludes the European Command, which plays a vital role in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. This omission has raised concerns about potential shifts in US military strategy and global commitments.

During his first visit to Brussels on February 12, Secretary Hegseth expressed skepticism regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership prospects and ruled out deploying US peacekeeping forces to the country. He stated that allies must recognize the improbability of Ukraine returning to its pre-2014 borders. Hegseth emphasized the US commitment to ending the war and minimizing further bloodshed, signaling a potential recalibration of Washington’s approach to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.