Media365
In a major signal of shifting US defence priorities, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a comprehensive review of America’s military deployments in Europe, warning NATO allies that Washington expects them to shoulder a larger share of the continent’s security burden.
Speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Hegseth said the Pentagon review would run for up to six months and examine whether the current US force posture in Europe aligns with Washington’s global military requirements.
The move comes amid growing pressure on European NATO members to increase defence spending and reduce their reliance on American military support.
“This will be a real review,” Hegseth said, adding that the objective was to ensure NATO moves “fast and irreversibly” towards Europe taking primary responsibility for its own defence.
US warns NATO allies over defence commitments
The US defence chief delivered a sharp message to NATO members that have failed to meet spending targets, saying Washington would openly call out countries not contributing enough. Hegseth also warned that the US could reconsider some NATO funding commitments if “free-riding” allies continue to fall short on defence obligations.
He said Washington would raise concerns both privately and publicly because “friends need to be honest with friends.”
The Pentagon chief described the future of the alliance as “NATO 3.0” — a return to a stronger military-focused organisation capable of deterring threats through greater European capability.
Iran conflict tensions add pressure on alliance
Hegseth also criticised some NATO partners for their response during the recent US conflict with Iran, after certain allies reportedly denied American forces access to bases and airspace for war-related operations.
He said the ongoing review would also examine whether US forces could count on reliable basing and overflight access in future crises.
US scales back NATO crisis contributions
The announcement follows Washington’s decision to immediately reduce some of the military capabilities it makes available to NATO during emergencies.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that the reduction had already taken effect, though he stressed that in the event of a major conflict, all allies — including the US — would provide maximum possible support.
The shift is aimed at ending what NATO’s top commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, described as an “unhealthy co-dependence” on American forces as Washington prepares for potential challenges across multiple regions.
Europe races to plug defence gaps
European countries have started offering additional capabilities to compensate for reduced US contributions. Belgium announced plans to increase its NATO commitments by providing more F-16 fighter aircraft and MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones.
However, European officials warned that replacing some American capabilities would take time, particularly in areas such as deep-strike weapons, refuelling aircraft and advanced surveillance systems.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius cautioned against a rapid withdrawal of US assets without alternatives in place, saying it could create “dangerous capability gaps” for European security.
According to military figures cited by Reuters, the US reductions include fewer fighter jets, drones and naval assets available for NATO crisis planning. The number of US F-15 and F-15E fighters assigned for NATO use is expected to drop by about one-third, while MQ-4 and MQ-9 drone availability could be cut by half.
The debate is expected to dominate discussions ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, where leaders will confront one of the alliance’s biggest questions: how much longer Europe can depend on America for its defence.
