Hegseth blasts NATO allies, says U.S. will review forces in Europe

Lead

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a comprehensive review of US military forces in Europe, sharply criticizing NATO allies for what he called "free-riding" on defense and for imposing restrictions on US forces during the war with Iran. The review, which Hegseth said would last up to six months and include consultations with Congress, underscores the Trump administration's push to shift the primary burden of European defense onto European allies.

Speaking at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday, Hegseth said the review "will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe." He added, "It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colours," according to multiple reports.

Coverage Comparison

The announcement was covered by multiple international outlets, with consistent reporting on the core facts: the review, Hegseth's criticism of allies over defense spending and Iran-war restrictions, and the US threat to tie its NATO budget contributions to ally spending. Al Jazeera, BBC, France 24, and The Hindu all reported Hegseth's statement that the US would reduce its contributions to NATO's organizational running costs if allies do not meet agreed spending targets. The specific figure of roughly $790 million in 2026 was cited by France 24 and The Hindu.

There were slight differences in emphasis. Al Jazeera and BBC highlighted the criticism of "free-riding" allies, while France 24 and The Hindu also gave prominent attention to Hegseth's remarks about European restrictions during the Iran war, which he described as "shameful." The BBC noted that the review includes consultations with Congress, which has legislated a minimum number of US forces in Europe—a detail also present in Al Jazeera's report but not explicitly mentioned in other articles.

All sources reported that the review is part of what Hegseth termed "NATO 3.0," aimed at ensuring Europe takes primary responsibility for its own defense.

Key Claims

• Six-month review of US forces in Europe: Hegseth announced a review of US military presence in Europe, lasting up to six months and including consultations with Congress, as reported by Al Jazeera, BBC, and France 24.
• Threat to withhold NATO dues: Hegseth said US payments to NATO's running costs—roughly $790 million in 2026—would be "contingent" on allies meeting defense spending targets. "Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down," he said, according to multiple sources.
• Criticism over Iran war restrictions: Hegseth criticized allies that imposed limits on US forces during the war with Iran, stating, "It was shameful. These allies, they put America's sons and daughters at risk," as quoted by France 24 and The Hindu.
• US scaling back commitments: The US has already told allies it is reducing the pool of military capabilities available to NATO in a crisis, including air and naval assets, according to reports from Al Jazeera and BBC.
• Defense spending targets: The US is pressing allies to reach an agreed target of 5% of GDP on defense, which includes 3.5% on core defense and 1.5% on related infrastructure, as reported by BBC.
• Rutte's response: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte noted that European allies and Canada spent $90 billion (€90 billion) more on defense last year—a rise of nearly 20%—and said Europeans are "already backfilling" resources that the US is cutting back, according to BBC and France 24.

Perspectives

US Perspective: The administration argues that Europe must take primary responsibility for its own defense, citing the need to address potential conflicts in multiple theaters and end what NATO's top commander called an "unhealthy codependence" on US forces. Hegseth's comments reflect frustration that some allies have not shown how they will meet the 5% spending target.

European Allies' Perspective: While acknowledging the need to increase spending, European allies point to the significant increases already made—$90 billion last year alone—and express concern about the US scaling back its commitments. Rutte emphasized that despite the reductions, the US would still be there if NATO faced an attack, saying the cuts were "immediate" but did not mean Washington would abandon allies in a crisis.

Iran War Context: Hegseth's criticism of allies' restrictions during the Iran war highlights the friction within the alliance over that conflict. Some European nations denied the US basing and overflight rights for war-related activities, which Hegseth said put American personnel at risk. This issue remains a point of tension as NATO prepares for a summit next month.

Implications: The review and the US threat to reduce budget contributions have sparked fears that Europe could be left vulnerable in the face of an aggressive Russia, as allies still rely on Washington for some key weaponry. However, officials note that the review is also an opportunity for Europe to demonstrate its capacity to lead on continental security.