WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe on Thursday, while pressing NATO allies to accelerate defense spending commitments.
Hegseth made the remarks during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, criticizing some allies for insufficient progress on spending targets and support during recent crises. The review, described as part of a push toward "NATO 3.0," will assess allies' commitments and could influence future U.S. troop deployments and contributions.
"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 defense of Europe," Hegseth said.
At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, allies committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on defense-related spending, including 3.5% on core military capabilities. Hegseth tied the review's outcomes to compliance with these goals, noting that U.S. payments into joint NATO budgets may decrease for underperforming members.
European officials have reported significant increases in spending, with allies collectively adding about $90 billion in 2025 compared to the prior year, representing roughly a 20% rise. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted these efforts. Details on individual country performance in the review remain unclear.
The announcement follows tensions over allied support during the spring 2026 Iran conflict, with Hegseth citing instances where some nations restricted U.S. base access. The review will evaluate progress on military equipment production, lessons from the Ukraine conflict and investments in areas such as drones and air defense.
Some European leaders described the review as potentially out of step with ongoing efforts, while others acknowledged the need for continued burden-sharing. Hegseth praised U.S. defense spending levels exceeding $1 trillion in the current fiscal year.
As of June 20, 2026, the Pentagon had not released further specifics on the review's methodology or timeline beyond the six-month framework. NATO officials indicated ongoing discussions on alliance contributions.
