Pete Hegseth Announces Review of US Troops in Europe, Criticizes NATO Allies

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of US troops in Europe, criticizing NATO allies as "shameful" for denying access to bases during the Iran war. Hegseth threatened to cut US funding if spending targets aren't met, as Washington reduces its military commitments to NATO to focus on China, prompting fears of "dangerous capability gaps" among European leaders.

US troop review in Europe

• ▪The review's outcome will depend on how quickly European allies take primary responsibility for their own security.
• ▪The Trump administration's goal is to reboot the alliance into a "NATO 3.0," a "hardline military alliance" focused on deterrence.
• ▪US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe on June 18, 2026.
• ▪The review will also assess whether the U.S. has assured access to basing and overflight rights in Europe.

Hegseth criticism of NATO allies

• ▪Pete Hegseth called it "shameful" that some NATO allies denied US forces access to bases and overflight rights during the war with Iran.
• ▪Hegseth threatened to reduce U.S. contributions to NATO's organizational running costs if allies do not meet spending targets.
• ▪Hegseth criticized European allies for focusing on "gender equity and climate change" instead of tanks, fighters, and air defenses.
• ▪Hegseth accused allies of putting US service members at risk by denying access to bases.

European defense spending increases

• ▪European allies and Canada increased defense spending by $90 billion in the last year, a 20% increase over 2024.
• ▪A NATO official stated that three European countries, including Slovenia and the Czech Republic, are on track to miss a 2% of GDP spending threshold this year.

US military commitment changes

• ▪The Trump administration wants more military resources available for potential simultaneous conflicts, particularly with China in the Indo-Pacific.
• ▪The number of US F-15 and F-15E fighter jets available to NATO will be cut by a third to 99, and Reaper drones by half to 12.
• ▪German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that withdrawing US capabilities too quickly could create "dangerous capability gaps in Europe."
• ▪The US previously told allies it would reduce contributions to NATO's crisis forces, including an aircraft carrier, refueling planes, and fighter jets.

NATO nuclear deterrence

• ▪NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group issued its first statement in 19 years, reaffirming that strategic nuclear forces are the "supreme guarantee of Allied security."
• ▪The US does not intend to withdraw its nuclear weapons from Europe, which are considered key to NATO's deterrence.

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