BRUSSELS: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO Thursday (Jun 18) the Pentagon will review its force presence in Europe within the next six months, as he lashed out at allies over defence spending and their response to the Iran war."This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure

Pentagon chief says restrictions imposed by European nations during conflict 'put America's sons and daughters' at risk, US funding will now be contingent on allies' spending

The US defence secretary's move follows a US decision to scale back its commitments to a high readiness force within the alliance.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new review of America's troop deployments in Europe on Thursday and threatened to withhold some U.S. dues to NATO if "free riding" allies did not meet their ‌defense spending commitments. Hegseth, addressing defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, said the U.S. review…

The review will scrutinize troops, bases and access rights as Washington pressures allies to take the lead on Europe’s defense.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lambasted European allies for failing to provide U.S. forces access to bases in Europe to launch attacks on Iran, calling it “shameful.”

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has called for European NATO members to take the lead in reshaping the alliance into what he described as a more combat-focused structure, referred to as “NATO 3.0,” arguing that the bloc must evolve into a stronger military deterrent centered in Europe.