U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during a speech to NATO defense ministers in Brussels that they have initiated a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe. Hegseth said the review will assess whether Europe is taking on more responsibility for its own security.
Hegseth argued that NATO must rapidly and irreversibly shift to a structure where European allies take the lead in defending Europe. The review will also address how the U.S. military presence in Europe should be positioned.
Tensions Over Base Access for Iranian Strikes
Hegseth sharply criticized some European allies for denying U.S. forces access to bases in Europe for potential strikes against Iran, calling this stance "shameful."
The U.S. secretary said these countries are putting American troops at risk by refusing predictable access, deployment, and air transit rights. He added that these issues should never have been up for debate in the first place.
Call for "NATO 3.0"
At the meeting, Hegseth called for a restructuring of the 32-member alliance, referring to it as "NATO 3.0." He said the alliance must transform into a military coalition with real deterrent capabilities and a tough stance.
Hegseth also revealed that the U.S. plans to invest $1.5 trillion in its own defense by 2027. He said this investment sends a message to the world that the U.S. is building a force that protects its interests while supporting its allies.
Washington’s Changing Expectations
The U.S. administration wants to maintain more military resources to be prepared for two simultaneous conflicts. This approach is seen as strengthening Washington’s position in a potential conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Following the announcement by the American general commanding NATO that the U.S. will no longer provide certain assets—including aircraft carriers, support ships, aerial refueling planes, and numerous fighter jets—in a crisis starting June 3, backup plans for European defense are reportedly being developed.
NATO’s collective defense guarantee under Article 5 states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. However, this article does not necessarily compel members to provide military support. The U.S.’s new step narrows its approach to how it would support an ally if Article 5 is invoked.
The U.S. stands out as the alliance’s largest military power by far. Nevertheless, Washington does not plan to withdraw its nuclear weapons from Europe, which are seen as critical to NATO’s deterrence.
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