BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a six-month military review of the U.S. force posture in Europe during the NATO defense ministers meeting on Thursday. The Pentagon plans to reduce its military presence in Europe, including fighter jets and submarines, and expects European nations to increase their contributions to NATO, referring to this initiative as "NATO 3.0."
Hegseth stated, "This review will be conducted with input from the United States military from European Command, consultations with the U.S. Congress, and our allies." He emphasized that the review aims to assess America's military footprint in Europe and ensure a more equitable distribution of defense responsibilities among NATO members.
The announcement follows previous discussions during the Trump administration regarding the need for European countries to reduce their reliance on U.S. military support. Hegseth noted that NATO should function as a two-way street, indicating that some countries may not meet expectations while others may excel.
He criticized the lack of European support during recent conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel, stating that many allies did not provide the necessary assistance. Hegseth's remarks were made in the public portion of the meeting before media access was restricted.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that the U.S. has reduced its contributions to NATO's crisis forces but assured that all allies would maximize their efforts in the event of a conflict. He also mentioned that European nations are working to enhance their military capabilities.
The meeting served as a precursor to the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month. Hegseth's announcement reflects ongoing tensions regarding defense spending among NATO allies, with recent reports indicating a significant increase in defense budgets among European countries and Canada, totaling a $90 billion increase in spending compared to the previous year.