US to review European military presence, reduce NATO force participation

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Washington will undertake a comprehensive review of its military presence in Europe over the next six months. Hegseth emphasized that European allies must assume greater responsibility for their own security, signaling an end to the era of American defense subsidies for the continent.

The Pentagon has already begun scaling back its involvement in the NATO Allied Reaction Force. While Hegseth did not specify if this would lead to an overall reduction in U.S. troops stationed in Europe, he stressed that the review process will involve close coordination with the U.S. Congress. Observers view this as a continuation of the Trump administration's strategy to redistribute defense commitments within the alliance, noting the particularly firm tone adopted by the American minister.

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European allies must take greater responsibility for their own security, as the era of American “subsidizing” of European defense is coming to an end.

Hegseth specifically highlighted the importance of allied support for U.S. operations. When evaluating its European military posture, Washington will consider partners' willingness to grant overflight rights and access to military bases. The U.S. also intends to openly press NATO countries to accelerate their defense spending increases. The revised "NATO 3.0" concept aims to transform the alliance into a more robust military entity capable of independently securing Europe and deterring potential adversaries.

Simultaneously, the U.S. is decreasing its contribution to NATO Reaction Forces. Plans to withdraw some aviation and drone assets from these units were communicated in May, with the U.S. Air Force explaining this aims to reduce Europe's reliance on American capabilities and enhance U.S. readiness for conflicts in other global regions. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the reduction in U.S. participation has commenced. In response, several allies, including Belgium, have expressed a willingness to bolster their own contributions to the rapid reaction forces.

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the updated “NATO 3.0” concept envisions transforming the alliance into a more powerful military structure capable of independently ensuring Europe’s security and effectively deterring potential adversaries.