US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of American military forces in Europe on Thursday, warning NATO allies that Washington may cut troop deployments and financial contributions if they fail to meet defense spending targets. Speaking at a NATO meeting in Brussels, Hegseth condemned what he called “free riding” by European allies and described restrictions on US bases during the Iran war as “shameful,” signaling a potential shift in Washington’s long-standing security commitments to the continent.

The Pentagon chief’s remarks came as tensions escalated over Europe’s response to the Iran conflict, with Hegseth explicitly linking US support to allied military spending. “The era of free riding is over,” he told reporters . “If allies do not step up, we will review our force posture, including troop levels, base access, and our financial contributions to NATO.” He added that the review would scrutinize US troop numbers, base access rights, and crisis force deployments across Europe, with findings expected before the NATO leaders’ summit in July.

Hegseth’s comments were echoed by multiple outlets, including *Politico Europe*, which reported that the review would assess whether European nations are taking “primary responsibility” for continental defense . German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius responded cautiously, warning of “dangerous capability gaps” if US forces were withdrawn without coordination .

The announcement follows months of pressure from Washington, with Hegseth criticizing European allies for failing to meet the 2014 NATO pledge to spend 2% of GDP on defense. According to *The Wall Street Journal*, he suggested that US “NATO dues” would be contingent on allies meeting these targets . Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, currently serving as NATO Secretary General, declined to criticize Hegseth’s remarks, signaling a cautious approach to the US demands .

Analysts suggest the review reflects broader geopolitical shifts, including the US pivot toward Asia and growing skepticism in Washington about Europe’s commitment to collective defense. *Al Jazeera* noted that Hegseth’s language—describing NATO as a “paper tiger” in some reports—marks a sharp departure from traditional US rhetoric on the alliance . The move also coincides with reports that several European allies, including the UK, have yet to finalize defense plans ahead of the July summit .

As the review begins, European officials face a stark choice: accelerate defense spending or risk a reduction in US military support. The outcome could redefine NATO’s future structure and the transatlantic security architecture for decades to come.

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Articles

USA wollen keine „Ära des Trittbrettfahrens mehr: So macht Washington Druck auf die Nato-Partner US-Verteidigungsminister Pete Hegseth droht erneut mit Truppenabzug. Sein deutscher Amtskollege Boris Pistorius warnt vor einem schnellen Umbruch – und sorgt sich um von den Amerikanern hinterlassene Lücken.

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