US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington will carry out a six-month review of its military presence in Europe as it pushes NATO allies to take greater responsibility for the continent’s defense.

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Speaking on Thursday, Hegseth said the United States would continue pressing allies to increase defense spending and warned that future US contributions to NATO could depend on whether member states meet agreed spending targets.

Review of US Forces

Hegseth said the Pentagon would undertake what he described as a “real review” of US forces stationed across Europe.

The assessment will examine the benefits of maintaining American troops on the continent and is intended to support a shift toward greater European responsibility for regional security.

He said the review would help ensure that NATO is moving “fast and irreversibly” toward a model in which European allies take the lead in defending Europe.

Pressure on NATO Spending

The defense secretary reiterated Washington’s call for NATO members to increase military spending, arguing that the United States should not shoulder a disproportionate share of the alliance’s defense burden.

Hegseth said the US would be “doubling down” on efforts to encourage allies to spend more on defense.

He added that US payments to NATO could be tied to whether other countries meet their defense spending commitments.

“Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues, contributions will go down,” he said. “NATO will be a two-way street.”

End of ‘Free-Riding’

Hegseth said the era of allies relying heavily on US defense support was coming to an end.

“America cannot care for or pay more for Europe’s defence than our allies do,” he said, arguing that European governments must increase their own investments in security.

His remarks reflect the Trump administration’s broader push for NATO members to contribute more to collective defense and reduce dependence on Washington.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 18 June 2026

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Will you cut it out with this "Defense" nonsense! Hegseth is Secretary of War. Call a religious nutcase a spade!

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

He added that US payments to NATO could be tied to whether other countries meet their defense spending commitments.

The usual fallacy for the gullible that the US is disproportionately financing NATO. 😀

The US is funding our 15% of NATO common budget. Around the same as Germany.

Europe has been bludging financially off the United States since the end of World War II it's time they paid their own way .. I don't blame them for pulling out of Europe look at the way nobody came to America's assistance during this latest fight with Iran

14 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Will you cut it out with this "Defense" nonsense! Hegseth is Secretary of War. Call a religious nutcase a spade!

Why do you call him a religious nutcase? What is it that I'm missing

7 minutes ago, wombat said:

Europe has been bludging financially off the United States since the end of World War II it's time they paid their own way .. I don't blame them for pulling out of Europe look at the way nobody came to America's assistance during this latest fight with Iran

Thank god nobody did come to the aid of America’s illegal war of aggression.

NATO rules are quite clear, members will come to the aid of the one being attacked, NATO can never support aggression.

There has only ever been one call on NATO to come to a country’s aid being attacked.

America made that call and NATO members came.

I do agree that other members should up their spend and stop sponging off the US.

I also think Trump needs to be jailed for killing thousands of people in Iran.

It’s a fact his war was illegal, that’s not a theory.

25 minutes ago, wombat said:

Europe has been bludging financially off the United States since the end of World War II it's time they paid their own way .. I don't blame them for pulling out of Europe look at the way nobody came to America's assistance during this latest fight with Iran

Under the treaty that established NATO it covers Europe, the US and Canada. The middle east is outside of its mandate. Not to mention that NATO is a defensive alliance. When 9/11 occured NATO came to the assistance of the US.

35 minutes ago, wombat said:

Why do you call him a religious nutcase? What is it that I'm missing

That’s an accurate statement. Pull up a few of his speeches and have a listen.

So if the USA reduces spending in Europe with NATO, can we assume the DOD/DOW will reduce their budget accordingly and return those funds to congress or the Treasury?

(This is a rhetorical question.)

2 hours ago, wombat said:

Europe has been bludging financially off the United States since the end of World War II it's time they paid their own way .. I don't blame them for pulling out of Europe look at the way nobody came to America's assistance during this latest fight with Iran

Nor should NATO have come to assist this unilateral "war of choice" (OK, I agree Israel sold trump to get the USA on board, so not totally unilateral). Honestly, I have mixed thinking on this. I disagree with this administration's bent thinking but ... I can support Europe becoming less dependent on the USA. They need to develop more of their own defense capability. I anticipate there will be many in the USA rueing the day we pushed our allies away and encouraged them to no longer buy so much military hardware from the US military/industrial complex. The USA, through is own policies/ actions are demanding a less important role in global affairs. That may well be beneficial to the global community in lessening US hegemony.

2 hours ago, Tom89 said:

When 9/11 occured NATO came to the assistance of the US.

That was then this is now anything can be argued with the benefit of hindsight

2 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

It’s a fact his war was illegal, that’s not a theory.

I'm guessing that you also believe in the Queensbury rules?

5 minutes ago, wombat said:

That was then this is now anything can be argued with the benefit of hindsight

Facts don’t change with time.

4 minutes ago, wombat said:

I'm guessing that you also believe in the Queensbury rules?

Whataboutism. Your guess would be wrong. Unsurprisingly, you usually are.

I don't recall Europe ever demanding the US base any of their forces in Europe. The US forces were based in Europe by the US for the US. They use the bases for training. They use the bases to extend their reach across the world. They use the bases as stopover points for their wounded service members.

The Iranians have made Pete look foolish so he needs to vent. Europe is a convenient target.

1 hour ago, wombat said:

That was then this is now anything can be argued with the benefit of hindsight

Quite possibly the most amusing thing I have read today!

Then being 9-11, was when the members of NATO invoked Article 5 in order to assist the USA after an attack against was categorised as an attack on a member of NATO where all members are duty bound to assist.

Now being Feb 2026, was when a member of NATO illegitimately attacked an independent sovereign nation without Congressional approval or endorsement, but at the behest of a rogue genocidal nation who was not a NATO member.

Every LOGICAL argument uses historical facts and relationships (hindsight) to present a compelling case for anything.

Oh well, it doesn’t really matter anymore; the EU’s been a lost cause for ages anyway.

Great! Pack up your troops and ship them home. No one wants them in Europe anyway!

5 hours ago, wombat said:

Why do you call him a religious nutcase? What is it that I'm missing

Quite a lot, actually.

1 hour ago, Peterphuket said:

Oh well, it doesn’t really matter anymore; the EU’s been a lost cause for ages anyway.

Yep, its demise has been predicted every year since it's creation.

So, any minute now.........hold on, it coming......right around the corner.......almost there.........

21 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Will you cut it out with this "Defense" nonsense! Hegseth is Secretary of War. Call a religious nutcase a spade!

5 hours ago, Front Row said:

That’s an accurate statement. Pull up a few of his speeches and have a listen.

His religious references are purely performative for the benefit of the simple minded cult members.

7 hours ago, wombat said:

Europe has been bludging financially off the United States since the end of World War II it's time they paid their own way .. I don't blame them for pulling out of Europe look at the way nobody came to America's assistance during this latest fight with Iran

NATO is a defence organisation, NOT a resque team when one of the member states blunder itsself into a war.

For me, more then time to build up a European defense, with European designed, developed and build weapons, equipment and infrastructure. And when Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea want to join in: more than very welcome.

14 hours ago, wombat said:

Why do you call him a religious nutcase? What is it that I'm missing

Hegseth is an Evangelical who wears a Crusaders' Cross tattoo, hold prayer meetings at the Pentagon and calls America's, holy wars.

AI: During a Pentagon worship service, he notably prayed for "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy". Critics and scholars have noted his tendency to frame military actions and cultural struggles in terms of a divine "crusade" or holy war.

11 hours ago, alanrchase said:

I don't recall Europe ever demanding the US base any of their forces in Europe. The US forces were based in Europe by the US for the US. They use the bases for training. They use the bases to extend their reach across the world. They use the bases as stopover points for their wounded service members.

The Iranians have made Pete look foolish so he needs to vent. Europe is a convenient target.

861 US bases in 95 countries. What the hell for??? Shut 'em down and use the money for Americans.

13 hours ago, alanrchase said:

I don't recall Europe ever demanding the US base any of their forces in Europe. The US forces were based in Europe by the US for the US. They use the bases for training. They use the bases to extend their reach across the world. They use the bases as stopover points for their wounded service members.

The Iranians have made Pete look foolish so he needs to vent. Europe is a convenient target.

Only cowards vent on their allies and kiss the ring-pieces of their enemies.

10 hours ago, Harry Vibhavadi said:

NATO is a defence organisation

That's what I thought, but NATO bombed Kosovo and Libya.

On 6/18/2026 at 5:49 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Will you cut it out with this "Defense" nonsense! Hegseth is Secretary of War. Call a religious nutcase a spade!

Yes! And he is very fearsome indeed.

Non story. The Department of Defense constantly keeps all of its deployments, domestic and overseas, under review. Daily operational reviews are carried out by combatant commanders and the Joint Staff monitor ongoing operations, intelligence, threats, logistics, and readiness. Significant changes can lead to recommendations to reposition or reinforce forces.

The Pentagon periodically examines whether troop deployments, naval presence, air assets, and pre-positioned equipment remain aligned with strategic priorities. These reviews can result in rotations, withdrawals, or additional deployments.

During international crises, the deployment of forces can be reassessed on a near-continuous basis. Senior civilian leaders, including the Secretary of Defense and the President, receive multiple updates each day and approve changes rapidly.

Annual and strategic reviews, such as the National Defense Strategy process, budget planning, and global force management reviews, examine longer-term questions about where forces should be stationed and what capabilities are needed.

Important elements of this process are the Global Force Management and the Global Force Management Allocation Plan process.

Complete non-story.

9 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Hegseth is an Evangelical who wears a Crusaders' Cross tattoo, hold prayer meetings at the Pentagon and calls America's, holy wars.

AI: During a Pentagon worship service, he notably prayed for "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy". Critics and scholars have noted his tendency to frame military actions and cultural struggles in terms of a divine "crusade" or holy war.

So he is a product of our times who is a truthsayef?

8 hours ago, Roadsternut said:

Non story. The Department of Defense constantly keeps all of its deployments, domestic and overseas, under review. Daily operational reviews are carried out by combatant commanders and the Joint Staff monitor ongoing operations, intelligence, threats, logistics, and readiness. Significant changes can lead to recommendations to reposition or reinforce forces.

The Pentagon periodically examines whether troop deployments, naval presence, air assets, and pre-positioned equipment remain aligned with strategic priorities. These reviews can result in rotations, withdrawals, or additional deployments.

During international crises, the deployment of forces can be reassessed on a near-continuous basis. Senior civilian leaders, including the Secretary of Defense and the President, receive multiple updates each day and approve changes rapidly.

Annual and strategic reviews, such as the National Defense Strategy process, budget planning, and global force management reviews, examine longer-term questions about where forces should be stationed and what capabilities are needed.

Important elements of this process are the Global Force Management and the Global Force Management Allocation Plan process.

Complete non-story.

The only thing they don't have to worry about when making all these 'adjustments' is...money!

On 6/19/2026 at 12:30 PM, animalmagic said:

Congressional approval or endorsement,

Wasn't required wasn't needed.