Hegseth orders review of U.S. troops in Europe
The defense secretary told NATO allies in Brussels that Europe must take the lead on its own defense as Washington reassesses its role.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the Pentagon will conduct a six-month review of American forces in Europe, a move that could reshape Washington’s military role inside NATO. Speaking at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Hegseth tied the review to how quickly European allies take greater responsibility for the continent’s defense, according to The Associated Press.
Hegseth told his counterparts the review would test whether NATO was shifting “fast and irreversibly” toward European leadership on European security. He also said the Trump administration wants to recast the 32-member alliance as “NATO 3.0,” a version he described as able to deter any threat, AP reported.
The remarks came as European allies and Canada are already assessing how to cover military gaps after Washington said it would withhold certain assets in a crisis. AP reported that the United States told allies on June 3 it would no longer provide an aircraft carrier and support ships, aerial refueling aircraft and dozens of fighter jets, among other capabilities, if a NATO member came under attack.
NATO’s top military commander, an American, is preparing alternate defense plans for Europe in response to that U.S. shift, according to AP. The Trump administration has said it needs the flexibility to plan for two conflicts at once and keep more forces available in case of a war with China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth also criticized European allies over the recent war with Iran. He accused them of refusing U.S. forces access to bases, predictable basing arrangements and overflight routes for attacks on Iran, calling that denial “shameful,” AP reported.
He broadened the criticism to domestic policy in Europe, saying governments had focused on gender equality, climate change and budget cuts rather than weapons, air defenses and military readiness. AP said those claims did not reflect the current defense spending push by European allies and Canada.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday that European allies and Canada spent $90 billion more on defense last year, a 20% increase over 2024, according to AP. AP also reported that while Europe took in large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers more than a decade ago, many countries have since tightened border policies.
The U.S. changes do not mean Washington is abandoning NATO’s nuclear deterrent in Europe, AP reported. The United States does not plan to remove its nuclear weapons from Europe, which remain central to the alliance’s deterrence strategy.
NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group issued its first statement in 19 years after meeting Thursday. The ministers said the alliance’s strategic nuclear forces remain the “supreme guarantee” of allied security and support NATO’s extended deterrence system.
The group also said ministers agreed to keep strengthening NATO’s nuclear deterrence mission by updating nuclear capabilities, improving nuclear planning and adapting to protect security interests. The statement underscored that even as Washington reviews its conventional force posture, nuclear policy remains a core part of the alliance’s defense plans.
Under Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, members agree that an attack on one ally is treated as an attack on all. AP noted that the provision does not require members to provide military support, though many would be expected to do so.
This story draws on original reporting from NPR World.