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Hegseth Announces Review of U.S. Forces in Europe, Critiques NATO Allies

Hegseth Announces Review of U.S. Forces in Europe, Critiques NATO Allies

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six‑month review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe, urging NATO to assume greater responsibility for defending the continent. He criticized allies for restricting U.S. access to bases and threatened to reduce U.S. contributions if defense‑spending commitments are not met.

Mark Rutte
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
1. Europe and Canada spending in 2025 [reached] more than $90 billion extra compared to 2024, which is almost a 20 percent increase in defence spending.
2. We have looked at the division of labor in the context of conventional forces and we see that European allies and Canada are ready, willing and able to do more. Based on this, the United States has adjusted its pledges to the NATO force model.
3. However, why I'm a little bit reluctant to say this is because it is a planning tool. So what would happen in reality? If war would break out ... all allies, including the US, will max out what they can do to make sure we can fight the war.
4. The question yesterday came up: Is this immediate or not? It is immediate.
Boris Pistorius
German Defense Ministry
1. By and large, we'll be able to compensate for many things. But we need a bit more time, and that is the clear message.
2. There, we will need either stop-gap solutions or time before their withdrawal. This will need to be negotiated with our American partners. Generally, we will be able to compensate much but we will need some more time.
3. It is difficult and dangerous for the security of Nato's territory in Europe if capabilities are withdrawn very quickly without having clarity when they can be compensated for.
Pete Hegseth
Pentagon
1. Instead of tanks and fighters and air defenses, the focus has been on gender equity and climate change and defense austerity. Europe's borders flew wide open, welfare states expanded, defense budgets cratered. Along with Europe's belief in itself and its civilization.
2. These allies, they put America's sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question at all.
3. Some of our allies have gotten the message and stepped up. You know who you are, and we very much appreciate it.
4. Too many allied capitals seem to still miss something in translation.
5. Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down.
6. It was shameful. These allies, they put America's sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk.
7. It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colours.
8. Nato 3.0 is post-Cold War recognition that it needs to go back to a real hardline military alliance ⁠that has real military capabilities capable of deterring right here on the continent and ⁠taking the lead for the conventional defence of Europe.
9. Make no mistake about it, this will be a real review. It 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.
Theo Francken
New Flemish Alliance
1. There will be heavy discussions on who is doing what, but I can say that Belgium is contributing.

Hegseth Announces Review of U.S. Forces in Europe, Critiques NATO Allies

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