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Hegseth launches six-month review of US force posture in Europe
politico.eu • • nation
Key Points:
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of America's military presence in Europe to assess troop levels, basing rights, and military access, signaling increased pressure on NATO allies to take greater responsibility for continental defense.
- The review aligns with the Trump administration's vision of "NATO 3.0," where Europe leads conventional defense efforts while the U.S. shifts focus to other priorities.
- The U.S. has already begun reducing its European military footprint, including withdrawing about 5,000 troops from Germany and scaling back contributions to NATO's high-end military assets.
- Hegseth emphasized that future U.S. funding to NATO will depend on allies meeting defense spending targets, warning that some countries may fail the upcoming assessment.
- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed the review as a logical step, highlighting the importance of clear communication about defense commitments ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.
