Pete Hegseth’s predecessor as defense secretary, Lloyd J. Austin III, started the roughly 50-nation group to support Kyiv after Russia invaded in 2022, but he has given up leadership.

Ukraine’s key allies are meeting in Brussels on Friday with a noticeable absence at the table: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is only attending virtually.

It's the first in-person gathering of the group of 50 countries organizing aid for Ukraine that didn't have the U.S. defense secretary in the room.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth breaks down recent arrangements around the Panama Canal and addresses rising temperatures in relations with China on "The Will Cain Show."

Hegseth's comments came during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new U.S.-funded dock at the Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Naval Base.