Hegseth Blasts NATO Members, Announces Review of US Forces in Europe

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued a stern critique of some NATO members, citing concerns over defense spending and their support regarding Iran. Hegseth announced a forthcoming review of U.S. military forces stationed in Europe, warning that the assessment would determine which allies meet expectations and which do not.

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It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colours.

Addressing NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Hegseth declared, "For too long NATO has been a paper tiger and a one-way street. No more." He expressed disappointment that many allies did not support the U.S. on Iran, describing their refusal of access, basing, and overflight rights as a "shameful" denial. Hegseth argued that such actions put American service members at risk by hindering predictable access and operations.

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For too long NATO has been a paper tiger and a one-way street. No more.

He urged European allies to take greater responsibility for their own continent's defense and to transform NATO into a "real hard-line military alliance." This call for a "NATO 3.0" reboot, he explained, is a post-Cold War recognition that the alliance needs to revert to a robust military structure with genuine capabilities for deterrence on the continent.

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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.

Hegseth also highlighted the U.S.'s significant investment in its own defense, planning to spend $1.5 trillion in 2027. This investment, he stated, sends a message of American strength, bolstering both U.S. interests and the collective security of NATO allies. His remarks come amid discussions about how European allies and Canada will compensate for potential gaps in military support, following a U.S. signal that it might reduce the supply of certain warships and aircraft in crisis situations.

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NATO 3.0 is post-Cold War recognition that [NATO] needs to go back to a real hard-line military alliance that has real military capabilities capable of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defense of Europe.