TIMES International
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday sharply criticised NATO allies during a meeting in Brussels and announced a six-month Pentagon review of American military deployments in Europe, warning that future US force posture will depend on how quickly European states assume greater responsibility for their own defence, says AP.
Speaking to NATO counterparts, Hegseth said the review would be “real” and aimed at ensuring the alliance moves “fast and irreversibly” towards a model in which Europe leads its own security, with the United States stepping back from primary responsibility for the continent’s defence.
He also criticised European allies for allegedly failing to provide US forces with reliable access to bases for potential operations against Iran, describing the situation as “shameful”.
He argued that restrictions on basing, access and overflight placed US troops at unnecessary risk.
“These allies, they put America’s sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question at all,” he said.
Hegseth used his opening remarks to broaden his criticism, targeting European policies on migration, climate action and social issues.
His comments echoed earlier statements by US Vice President JD Vance, which had previously sparked concern among European allies.
“Instead of tanks and fighters and air defenses, the focus has been on gender equity and climate change and defense austerity,” he said, adding that “Europe’s borders flew wide open, welfare states expanded, defense budgets cratered” and that this had affected Europe’s “belief in itself and its civilisation”.
His remarks, however, contrasted with current defence trends in Europe.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte noted that allies and Canada increased defence spending by $90 billion last year, representing a 20% rise compared with 2024, as countries accelerate military build-up plans in response to heightened security concerns.
European governments have also tightened migration and asylum policies over the past decade, following earlier large-scale inflows.
The Trump administration has pushed for a restructuring of NATO into what Hegseth described as a “NATO 3.0”, intended to strengthen deterrence while shifting more responsibility to European members.
The remarks come weeks after Washington informed allies it would no longer automatically provide certain military assets in the event of a crisis, including aircraft carriers, support ships, aerial refuelling aircraft and fighter jets.
European allies and Canada are now assessing how to compensate for potential gaps in capability.
NATO’s supreme allied commander, an American officer, is currently preparing contingency plans for European defence following the US signal on 3 June that it may withhold key assets during emergencies.
Officials say this reflects US concerns about maintaining readiness for potential simultaneous conflicts, including a possible confrontation with China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Under NATO’s Article 5 collective defence clause, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. However, the treaty does not obligate any specific military contribution, meaning responses can vary among allies.
The United States remains NATO’s most powerful military contributor and has indicated it does not intend to withdraw its nuclear weapons stationed in Europe, which continue to underpin the alliance’s deterrence posture.
Reinforcing that role, NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group issued its first public statement in 19 years after meeting on Thursday.
The statement reaffirmed that the alliance’s strategic nuclear forces remain the “supreme guarantee” of collective security and the foundation of NATO’s extended deterrence.
The group also agreed to further strengthen nuclear deterrence capabilities through modernisation, improved planning structures and adaptation to evolving security challenges.
