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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