US launches NATO Europe review

What's happened

The US defence secretary has announced a six-month Pentagon review of American force posture in Europe and warned that NATO members that fail defence‑spending targets will face reduced US contributions and access. He has criticised allies that limited basing or overflight during US strikes on Iran and said US dues will be contingent on allies meeting spending commitments.

What's behind the headline?

What this means now

• The Pentagon has launched a six‑month review that will evaluate US basing, overflight and force allocations across Europe. The review is intended to force European governments to increase defence spending and replace capabilities the US is withdrawing.

Power shift

• Washington is moving responsibility for conventional defence to European capitals while keeping consultations with Congress. That will force European militaries to accelerate procurement and planning for gap‑filling capabilities such as refuelling, reconnaissance and strike aircraft.

Immediate operational effects

• The US has already removed some assets from NATO crisis pools — including fighters, drones, refuellers and ships — and the review will formalise further reductions unless allies step up. This will increase pressure on alliance logistics, maritime patrol and deep‑strike options.

Political consequences

• The review will increase pressure on governments that have avoided full basing or overflight access during the US‑Israel strikes on Iran. It will also force NATO leaders into a high‑stakes negotiation at next month's summit over who pays and who provides capability.

Forecast

• European capitals will announce targeted contributions to crisis pools and short‑term capability packages to avoid immediate gaps. Over 12–36 months, defence budgets and procurement priorities will shift toward air refuelling, ISR and deep‑strike munitions; some US forces will be redeployed if replacements are not agreed.

Bottom line

• The review will accelerate Europe's military build‑up or, failing that, will reduce the US footprint in states that do not meet Washington's spending and access expectations.

How we got here

NATO members agreed last year to boost defence spending; the US has already reduced some capabilities available to NATO and is asking Europe to take primary responsibility for its conventional defence as Washington shifts focus globally.

Our analysis

Reuters highlights that Hegseth has framed the review as a six‑month process that will include consultations with Congress and that Washington has already cut some contributions to NATO's crisis forces, quoting allies such as Germany warning about "dangerous capability gaps" (Phil Stewart/Reuters). The Guardian reports that Hegseth told ministers the review would make "annual Nato dues... contingent on other countries meeting their defence spending targets" and that cuts under consideration include redeploying a third of US F‑16 and F‑15 jets (Dan Sabbagh/The Guardian). The New York Times notes Hegseth's sharp language calling NATO "a paper tiger" and records his criticism of allies who denied basing or overflight during strikes on Iran (Lara Jakes/The New York Times). Al Jazeera and France 24 emphasise that NATO secretary‑general Mark Rutte has welcomed pressure to keep allies focused and that Europe and Canada increased defence spending by roughly $90 billion versus 2024. CNBC and The Times of Israel report Hegseth's warning that US dues — about $790m in 2026 — will be contingent on allies meeting targets and that the moves are meant to end an "unhealthy co‑dependence" on US forces. Across outlets, direct quotes show the split: Hegseth saying "It was shameful" that some allies denied access, Rutte saying keeping pressure on is "prudent," and German ministers warning that rapid withdrawals without replacements would be "difficult and dangerous." These variations show common reporting of the review's scope and tone, with differing emphasis on operational detail versus political rhetoric.

Go deeper

• Which NATO countries are most likely to lose US assets if they do not meet targets?
• How quickly can European militaries replace capabilities such as refuelling and drones?
• Will Congress constrain any US force reductions during the six‑month review?

More on these topics

• NATO

  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.

• Pete Hegseth - United States Secretary of War

  Peter Brian Hegseth (born June 6, 1980) is an American government official and former television personality who has served since 2025 as the 29th United States secretary of defense. Hegseth studied politics at Princeton University, where he was the publi

• United States - Country in North America

  The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.

• Mark Rutte - Prime Minister of the Netherlands

  Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician serving as Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010 and Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy since 2006.

• Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) - Country in the Middle East

  Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a

• Europe - Region in Europe

  Central Europe is the region comprising the central part of Europe. Central Europe occupies continuous territories that are otherwise sometimes considered parts of Western Europe, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe.

• Brussels-Capital Region - City and region of Belgium

  Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country. It is...

• Ukraine - Country in Europe

  Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.