Pete Hegseth accuses Nato countries of ‘free riding’ in combative address

Lead

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a forceful address at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, announcing a comprehensive review of the US military presence in Europe and pressing allies to increase defense spending and take greater responsibility for their own security. Hegseth criticized some NATO members for what he described as "free riding" and for failing to support the US during the Iran conflict, while also signaling that American contributions to the alliance would now be tied to allies' spending performance.

The review, which Hegseth said would take six months, is designed to "ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly towards Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe," according to remarks covered by multiple outlets, including the Guardian and South China Morning Post. Hegseth cautioned, "It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colours."

Coverage comparison

International media coverage varied in tone and emphasis. ABC Australia and Al Jazeera highlighted Hegseth's criticism of NATO allies, with ABC describing his remarks as "harsh" and Al Jazeera using the term "slammed." Deutsche Welle reported that he "berated" alliance partners, and the South China Morning Post said he "lashed out" at them. The Guardian's coverage was similarly critical, focusing on his "combative address" and threats to cut force numbers.

In contrast, Dawn, the Pakistani daily, presented a more conciliatory tone, noting that Hegseth "hailed progress" by NATO allies toward meeting defence spending vows while adding that "some still need to do more." Dawn also reported that three European countries, including Slovenia and the Czech Republic, are currently on course to fall short of the two-percent GDP threshold for defence spending this year — a claim noted in only one outlet and not independently verified.

France 24 focused on the announcement of the review and Hegseth's assertion that NATO must move toward Europe leading its own defense, with its coverage reflecting a more neutral framing.

Key claims

Multiple sources confirm Hegseth announced a review of the US military presence in Europe. Some outlets specified it would be a six-month review, with Hegseth saying it would "examine America's force posture and basing in Europe," as reported by Deutsche Welle.

Hegseth's criticism of European allies centered on two areas: defence spending and support for US military actions. According to ABC Australia, Hegseth accused some NATO members of not meeting their funding commitments and criticized their stance on the Iran conflict. Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post reported that Hegseth specifically called out allies' failure to grant US forces access to bases and flight paths for operations related to Iran. He called this denial "shameful," stating that these allies put American personnel at risk, as quoted by multiple outlets including the Guardian and Deutsche Welle.

Beyond the access issue, Hegseth called for NATO to become a "hardline military alliance," describing it as "NATO 3.0" and criticizing the alliance for being a "paper tiger" and a "one-way street," according to remarks reported by TASS and ABC Australia.

Hegseth also linked US financial contributions to NATO to allies' spending performance. As reported by the Guardian and the South China Morning Post, Hegseth said that Washington's annual dues payments to the alliance — approximately $790 million in 2026 — would be contingent on allies reaching their defence spending targets. "Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down," he said, according to the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

Washington's view

A major US objective, as expressed by Hegseth, is that NATO moves toward Europe taking the lead in its own conventional defense. He emphasized that the US is heavily investing in its own defense, building what he called an "arsenal of freedom." The Trump administration also wants NATO members from Europe to gradually increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, as reported by the Guardian, though Dawn noted a pledge at last year's summit to reach five percent of GDP on defence-related spending.

European NATO allies

European allies generally acknowledge that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own conventional defense but have expressed concern about the US approach. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to dispel these concerns. According to Deutsche Welle and France 24, Rutte said the US reductions would not mean Washington would not be there if NATO faced an attack. The Guardian also reported Rutte sees Hegseth's remarks as an attempt to "keep the pressure on," and Rutte added that he is "happy" Hegseth speaks this way because "we need to speak the truth to each other."

European allies and Canada are working to find ways to fill gaps left by the US reducing the military assets it makes available to NATO, as ABC Australia reported.

NATO officials

While Hegseth did not specify exact numbers, multiple reports indicated the US is reducing the assets it pledges to NATO. Deutsche Welle reported a sharp reduction in assets pledged to NATO's crisis plans, known as the Force Model, and the Guardian mentioned potential cuts affecting a third of the 150 US F-16 and F-15 jets designated for NATO, along with other aircraft. These figures were not uniform across all sources.

The Pentagon's review will be conducted with input from US and European commands and will include consultations with Congress and allies, according to the South China Morning Post.

Historical context

Tensions between the US and NATO allies over defence spending are not new, but Hegseth's remarks came during a period of friction. The US was engaged in a conflict with Iran, which President Trump initiated without pre-consulting many NATO allies, as reported by Deutsche Welle. Some NATO members restricted the use of their bases or airspace, as noted by Deutsche Welle. Hegseth's speech in Brussels continued his critique, following a highly critical address in Normandy earlier this month, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

The review announcement preceded a NATO summit scheduled for next month in Turkey, where allies hoped the peace deal with Tehran could help mend tensions between Washington and its partners, according to a Reuters excerpt in Dawn.