Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, has sparked significant controversy with his sharp critiques of NATO, the United Nations, and the Geneva Conventions. Hegseth, a former military officer and outspoken commentator, advocates for prioritizing Israel in U.S. foreign policy and proposes radical changes to military conduct.

In his books, American Crusade (2020) and The War on Warriors (2024), Hegseth takes aim at longstanding alliances and international norms. He dismisses NATO as outdated and unfairly dependent on U.S. funding, questioning why “Islamist Turkey” is a member. He calls the UN an anti-American organization pushing a globalist agenda. Additionally, he expresses disdain for international peacekeeping efforts, recounting U.S. soldiers’ frustrations with the UN-led mission in Afghanistan.

Hegseth also intertwines his foreign policy views with religious and ideological narratives. He casts Israel as central to U.S. interests, describing it as the embodiment of “faith, family, freedom, and free enterprise.” He characterizes Israel’s military actions as exemplary, while tying U.S. policy to Christian nationalist themes. “If you love America, you should love Israel,” Hegseth writes, urging Americans to embrace an “American crusade” to defend shared values.

On military conduct, Hegseth argues that U.S. forces should not be constrained by the Geneva Conventions or international war laws. In The War on Warriors, he advocates for a more ruthless and uncompromising military strategy, claiming that such rules disadvantage American troops. “If we’re going to send our boys to fight, we need to unleash them to win,” he states, adding that U.S. forces must be “overwhelmingly lethal.”

Hegseth’s views raise concerns about the future of NATO, potential tensions with global allies, and accountability for war crimes. Critics, including Tom Hill of the Center for Peace and Diplomacy, suggest that Hegseth’s nomination reflects Trump’s effort to appeal to a Christian nationalist base. Hill warns that Hegseth’s rhetoric undermines treaty allies and promotes an extremist narrative.

As Hegseth awaits confirmation, his proposed policies and controversial perspectives continue to fuel debate about the direction of U.S. defense strategy.