Hegseth Criticizes 'Free-Riding' Allies, Announces Review of US Troops in Europe

What happened

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of the American military presence in Europe during a meeting of Nato defense ministers in Brussels. Hegseth characterized the review, which he called 'Nato 3.0,' as a measure to ensure European nations lead on continental security. He warned that the results of the review would vary by country, stating that while some allies would 'pass with flying colors,' others would 'fail' based on their contributions and cooperation.

What's new in this update

The U.S. is making its annual dues to Nato contingent on allies meeting specific defense spending targets. Hegseth specifically targeted 'free-riding' nations among Nato's largest and wealthiest economies. Furthermore, the U.S. has begun scaling back its commitments to the Nato Force Model (NFM), a high-readiness framework. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed these changes are taking effect immediately and noted that European allies are already attempting to 'backfill' the resources the U.S. is withdrawing.

Key details

The U.S. is pushing for a defense spending target of 5% of national GDP, divided into 3.5% for core defense and 1.5% for related infrastructure. Hegseth also expressed sharp criticism for member states that imposed limits on assistance to U.S. forces during the recent conflict with Iran. While the specific countries facing troop reductions were not named in the review announcement, a U.S. official noted that no outcomes have been predetermined.

Background and context

The announcement follows recent volatility in U.S. troop deployments across the continent. In May, the U.S. announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany following a dispute between President Trump and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Similar uncertainty has affected Poland, where a withdrawal plan for 4,000 troops was recently reversed in favor of a 5,000-troop deployment. Meanwhile, Spain recently faced trade threats after refusing the use of air bases for operations against Iran.

What to watch next

The focus shifts to how individual European nations will respond to the 5% spending demand and the impending six-month deadline. Poland’s Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz indicated that Warsaw is pursuing a permanent U.S. base, a decision currently pending further negotiation. In the UK, Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis attended the summit without a formal investment plan, following the resignation of his predecessor who warned that current plans fall short of national needs.