Hegseth Orders Review Of U.S. Forces In Europe, Signals NATO Shift
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. forces and basing in Europe at a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday, June 18, 2026.[1]
Hegseth said the review "will be a real review" and that it aims to push NATO toward Europe taking primary responsibility for its own defense.[2]
On Thursday he accused some European allies of denying U.S. forces predictable access, basing and overflight during the war with Iran, and said those actions "put America's sons and daughters ... at risk." Fox News He also blasted allies for prioritizing "gender equity, climate change and welfare expansion" over tanks, fighters and air defenses, and warned Washington could reduce its NATO common-budget contributions for partners that "do not spend with urgency." PBS News
On February 13, 2025, Hegseth told NATO ministers allies must spend more and assume greater leadership under President Trump's 5% of GDP target. In February 2026, Under Secretary Elbridge Colby promoted a "NATO 3.0" framework calling for European allies to take primary responsibility for conventional defense. U.S. European Command in early June notified partners it would trim some NATO Force Model contributions to reduce unhealthy dependence on U.S. assets. The current review follows May Pentagon moves to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany and to reduce brigade combat teams assigned to Europe.[1] Congressional leaders called the Germany drawdown "concerning," and a draft FY2027 defense bill would require a 120-day assessment before any force cut.[1]
Early reporting framed Hegseth's announcement as a hard-line push for allies to increase spending and take on more defense burdens.[2] Subsequent coverage highlighted that many European governments are already raising spending, buying drones and air defenses, and improving military mobility, and cautioned that Hegseth's rhetoric risks undermining NATO cohesion.[3]
The mainstream summary emphasizes Hegseth's call for increased European defense spending and his criticisms of NATO allies, but it overlooks the broader context of NATO's current military capabilities. As of 2026, NATO's combined active-duty military personnel total approximately 3.65 million, with significant contributions from both the U.S. and European nations, indicating that many allies are already investing heavily in defense. This contrasts with Hegseth's framing, which suggests a lack of commitment from European partners. Furthermore, while the summary mentions concerns about NATO cohesion, it does not address the ongoing shifts in U.S. strategic priorities, particularly the focus on China, which some analysts argue may lead to a burden-shifting dynamic in transatlantic defense responsibilities. A January 2026 CSIS analysis highlights this shift, suggesting that the U.S. is increasingly treating Russia as a threat to be managed by European allies, thereby altering the traditional NATO dynamic and potentially undermining the alliance's unity.[4][5]
Additionally, the summary does not capture the diverse perspectives emerging from social media, where some users argue that European allies should not be blamed for their actions during the Iran conflict, as they were not adequately informed by the U.S. This highlights a disconnect between U.S. expectations and European realities, suggesting that Hegseth's criticisms may not resonate universally among NATO members. The call for a 'NATO 3.0' framework, which emphasizes accountability and increased spending, is also met with mixed reactions, indicating that the path forward may be more complex than Hegseth's hard-line stance suggests.[5]
Show source details & analysis (4 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
NATO's combined active-duty military personnel total approximately 3.65 million as of 2026 data, including roughly 1.32 million from the United States and about 1.29 million from the 23 EU member states that also belong to NATO.
The size of NATO and non-NATO military forces in Europe — New Union Post
NATO's common funded budgets total approximately €4.6 billion for 2025, with the United States contributing 14.9039% under the current cost-share formula that applies through 2027.
Funding NATO — NATO
In 2025, the 29 European NATO member states spent a combined total of $559 billion on defense.
📌 Key Facts
- Pete Hegseth announced a six‑month review of U.S. forces in Europe during a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday, June 18, 2026, saying the review "will be a real review" aimed at moving NATO toward Europe taking primary responsibility for its own defense (six‑month review of U.S. forces in Europe).
- Hegseth explicitly accused certain European allies of denying U.S. forces predictable access, basing and overflight during the war with Iran and said those actions "put America's sons and daughters ... at risk" (denying U.S. forces predictable access, basing and overflight).
- He broadened his criticism to say European governments had prioritized "gender equity, climate change and welfare expansion" over "tanks and fighters and air defenses," and said the Pentagon review will examine "where is the right place for basing" and where the U.S. can ensure access while warning U.S. contributions to NATO’s common budget could be reduced for allies that "do not spend with urgency" (gender equity, climate change and welfare expansion).
- The review was timed ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara and follows Pentagon moves in May to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany and reduce brigade combat teams assigned to Europe—decisions that surprised and alarmed some members of Congress (withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany).
- Congressional leaders and proposals are pushing procedural limits on future drawdowns: Senate and House Armed Services chairs Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers called the Germany drawdown "concerning," and the Senate Armed Services Committee’s draft FY2027 NDAA would require a 120‑day assessment before any force drawdown and preserves a statutory floor that bars cuts below 76,000 troops in Europe without a plan (120-day assessment).
- Germany told reporters it intends to build "the strongest conventional army in Europe" and has become Ukraine's largest supporter, reflecting a shift in Berlin's security posture since Russia's invasion (the strongest conventional army in Europe).
- EU leaders at a separate summit affirmed that "Europe's defense readiness must be decisively ramped up by 2030," discussing joint funding, procurement reforms and improved "military mobility," while NATO data show 31 of 32 members met the 2% of GDP spending target in 2025 — though officials like Sen. Thom Tillis warned of production‑capacity shortfalls for needed equipment (Europe's defense readiness must be decisively ramped up by 2030).
- Critics warned Hegseth’s approach risks undermining alliance cohesion: Royal United Services Institute Director‑General Rachel Ellehuus called his framing a "protection racket," and PBS reported Hegseth rarely attends NATO meetings and left the June 18 ministerial early (protection racket).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article reinforces that Pete Hegseth announced the six-month review of U.S. forces and bases in Europe during a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
- It adds that many European leaders were simultaneously assessing a detailed checklist of defense improvements, including higher spending, industrial investment, and procurement of drones, air defenses and long-range weapons, showing they were already acting on priorities Hegseth cited.
- The piece reports Hegseth’s characterization of NATO as a 'paper-tiger,' his claim that allies were 'shameful' and that 'too many failed' Trump’s test over basing for strikes on Iran, and his criticism of European focus on 'gender equity and climate change' and migration policies.
- It clarifies that Hegseth’s Pentagon review will consider 'where is the right place for basing' and 'where can we make sure we have access', and that he warned U.S. contributions to NATO’s common budget could be reduced for allies that 'do not spend with urgency.'
- The article notes that Hegseth rarely attends NATO meetings and left the June 18 ministerial early, underscoring his limited in-person engagement with alliance forums.
- It cites Royal United Services Institute Director-General Rachel Ellehuus criticizing Hegseth’s framing as a 'protection racket' that undermines NATO solidarity and U.S. security interests.
- European Union leaders at a separate summit reaffirmed that 'Europe's defense readiness must be decisively ramped up by 2030' and discussed using joint EU funding, cutting procurement red tape, and improving 'military mobility' for rapid troop and equipment movements.
- The article emphasizes that about two-thirds of EU states are in NATO and that perceived unpredictability from the Trump administration, including Hegseth’s review threat, is driving Europeans to push ahead on defense planning more autonomously.
- On Thursday, June 18, 2026, Hegseth told NATO defense ministers in Brussels that the Pentagon is launching a six-month review of U.S. forces and bases in Europe, timing it ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara.
- The article details that the Defense Department in May announced withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany and reduced the number of brigade combat teams assigned to Europe, moves that surprised some members of Congress.
- Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker and House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers issued a joint statement calling the Germany drawdown 'concerning' and insisting that significant posture changes require a deliberate review and close coordination with Congress and allies.
- The Senate Armed Services Committee's draft FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act would require the defense secretary to submit an assessment of the impact of any force drawdown 120 days before implementation, adding to an existing statutory floor that bars cuts below 76,000 troops in Europe without a plan.
- The article notes current NATO data showing 31 of 32 member states met the 2% of GDP defense-spending target in 2025, up from 18 in 2024, and says Hegseth criticized allies for not yet showing progress toward a new 5% of GDP by 2035 goal set at the 2025 Hague summit.
- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, is quoted acknowledging 'tremendous progress' on allied defense spending but warning of production-capacity shortfalls and calling for the Ankara summit to address them.
- On Thursday, June 18, 2026, Pete Hegseth told NATO counterparts in Brussels that the six‑month Pentagon review of U.S. forces in Europe "will be a real review" aimed at moving NATO toward Europe taking primary responsibility for its own defense.
- Hegseth explicitly accused certain European allies of having "put America's sons and daughters ... at risk" by denying U.S. forces predictable access, basing and overflight during the war against Iran.
- He broadened his criticism to European domestic policy, saying that instead of "tanks and fighters and air defenses," governments had prioritized gender equity, climate change and welfare expansion while letting defense budgets "crater."
- The Fox News piece juxtaposes Hegseth's warning with Germany's pledge, conveyed by Ambassador Jens Hanefeld, that Berlin intends to build "the strongest conventional army in Europe" and has a new military strategy to support that goal.
- Germany's ambassador told Fox that Germany is now Ukraine's largest supporter and that Russia's invasion has shifted Berlin's view of its security responsibilities.