Hegseth Challenges NATO Allies
Pete Hegseth Attacks NATO Allies and Announces Review of US Forces in Europe
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a sharp rebuke to NATO allies in Brussels on June 18, announcing a six-month review of all American forces, bases, and assets in Europe. The review, which Hegseth framed as a transition to "NATO 3.0," will determine whether the U.S. keeps troops on the continent — or pulls them out. AP News reported that the U.S. had already begun cutting a third of its activated assets for European defense, including fighter jets and reconnaissance drones, by the afternoon of June 18.
Hegseth told the North Atlantic Council that the era of the U.S. "subsidizing the defense of wealthy allies" is over. He labeled current NATO operations "NATO 2.0: The Era of Freeriding" and demanded allies hit a new 5% of GDP spending target by 2035, according to Reuters. Only 31 of 32 NATO members had just reached the old 2% target in 2025.
Iran War Fallout Sparked the NATO Showdown
The trigger for Hegseth's ultimatum was the recently ended U.S. war against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury. During the conflict, several NATO allies — most notably Spain and Italy — blocked U.S. access to their airspace and bases for strikes on Iranian targets. Hegseth called that refusal "shameful," according to Breaking Defense.
The friction had been building for months. In May 2026, the Pentagon pulled 5,000 troops out of Germany without consulting allies, Stars and Stripes reported. By June 3, the Trump administration said it would no longer provide an aircraft carrier or aerial refueling tankers for European crises, shifting those resources to the Indo-Pacific.
What the Six-Month Review Could Actually Cut
The review is being led by Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top U.S. commander in Europe. He will assess which bases still serve American interests. The U.S. currently has about 80,000 troops in Europe, down from nearly 100,000 in early 2024, according to Stars and Stripes.
Roughly a third of the 150 F-15s and F-16s designated for NATO support could be redeployed, along with strategic bombers and surveillance drones. Hegseth also warned that the $790 million U.S. contribution to NATO's annual budget will be "contingent" on allies meeting their spending targets, Euractiv reported.
Europe Pushes Back, Russia Takes Note
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pointed out that European defense spending rose by $90 billion in 2025. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said allies have long seen a U.S. drawdown coming and must now speed up "Strategic Autonomy," according to AP News. Eastern European nations like Poland, however, are lobbying for new permanent U.S. bases.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the rift as a "major upheaval" for Europe, saying Moscow is watching closely for any collapse in Western deterrence, per AP News. Two senior U.S. Republicans — Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers — also warned that a rapid drawdown would embolden Russia and said Congress must be closely consulted, according to CBS News.
July Summit in Ankara Will Seal Each Ally's Fate
The results of the six-month review will go to President Trump, who is expected to present a "pass/fail" verdict to individual heads of state at the Ankara Leaders' Summit in July 2026. Allies who fall short of the new spending benchmarks — known as the "Hague commitments" — face immediate and permanent troop withdrawals from their soil.
Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, a key architect of the NATO 3.0 plan, argues the U.S. must redirect its focus to countering China in the Indo-Pacific, per The Guardian. The U.S. defense budget for 2026 stands at $1 trillion. Hegseth cited that figure as proof the U.S. is "leading and exceeding" its own standards — and has earned the right to demand the same from allies.
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