Hegseth Launches Six-Month Review of U.S. Forces in Europe

War Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a blunt message to NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday, announcing a six-month Pentagon review of American forces across Europe and making clear that the alliance can no longer function as a one-way street funded by U.S. taxpayers.

Hegseth called the effort the NATO 3.0 review and said its purpose is straightforward. Europe must begin taking primary responsibility for its own security, or Washington will adjust its deployments accordingly. The review will examine U.S. force posture, basing, and equipment on the continent, including fighter jets, bombers, and submarines. Results are expected within six months, though Hegseth noted it could conclude sooner.

The secretary did not mince words about recent events. During the recent U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran, several NATO members refused to grant American forces access to bases or overflight rights. Hegseth called that refusal shameful and said it placed U.S. service members in unnecessary danger. He pointed out that predictable access to facilities should never have been in question when American troops were engaged in combat operations.

This episode underscored a deeper pattern. Hegseth noted that many European governments have spent years prioritizing migration policies, gender equity initiatives, climate targets, and expanded welfare programs while defense budgets remained low. The result, he said, was a weakened continent that still expects the United States to provide the bulk of the hard power. European allies increased defense spending by roughly 20 percent last year, yet the gap between commitments and actual capability remains wide.

The Trump administration has repeatedly warned that NATO must become a genuine two-way arrangement. Hegseth reinforced that standard, stating some countries will pass the coming review while others will fail. He made clear that future U.S. deployments will favor partners willing to share burdens rather than simply consume security guarantees.

Critics in Europe are already framing the review as a threat to alliance unity. Yet the underlying facts are difficult to dispute. The United States has maintained large forward-deployed forces on the continent for decades, often at significant cost, while several member states have treated their defense obligations as optional. The Iran episode simply made those imbalances impossible to ignore.

Hegseth’s remarks align with a consistent administration view that American military resources should serve clear national interests first. If European nations want credible protection, they will need to demonstrate they can contribute meaningfully rather than lecture from the sidelines. The six-month review will test whether that message produces results or whether old habits simply resume once attention shifts elsewhere.