Hegseth opens 6-month review of US troop presence in Europe
Why it matters: The Pentagon tied future US forces and NATO funding to whether allies meet higher defense-spending goals.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a review that could reshape the American military footprint in Europe, telling NATO defense ministers in Brussels that some allies had been “free-riding” and would be judged on how quickly they take the lead on the continent’s security. He said the review could last up to six months and would examine US force presence and contributions to the alliance. Hegseth also warned that annual US dues to NATO would depend on whether members meet defense-spending targets, including a goal of 5% of GDP split between core defense and related infrastructure. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said European defense spending rose by €90 billion last year and that allies were already replacing some US capabilities.