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Hegseth announces review of U.S. forces in Europe, blasts "shameful" NATO allies
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Pentagon is initiating a six-month review of U.S. forces and bases in Europe, as announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in response to perceived allied restrictions on U.S. military operations amid the Iran conflict.
- Hegseth criticized unnamed NATO allies for denying the U.S. access to European bases and overflight rights, labeling their actions as "shameful" and accusing them of "freeriding" on American defense commitments.
- The review, dubbed "NATO 3.0," aims to reassess U.S. troop deployments in Europe and reflects a shift towards urging European nations to take greater responsibility for their own defense.
- This announcement precedes the NATO Summit in Ankara and follows bipartisan congressional concerns over recent U.S. troop reductions in Europe, including the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany.
- Congressional measures are being considered to increase oversight of force reductions in Europe, requiring advance assessments of the impact of any drawdowns, amid ongoing discussions about NATO allies' defense spending commitments.
