Hegseth announces review of US troops in Europe

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett announced today a new review of the deployment of US troops in Europe and threatened to withhold part of US payments to NATO if the "smuggling" allies do not meet their defense spending commitments.

Hegseth, addressing defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, said the US review would take up to six months and would include consultations with the US Congress, which has legislated a minimum number of US forces in Europe.

While he did not specifically say that the review could lead to a reduction in US forces in Europe, he stressed that the goal would be to encourage the continent to do more, while ensuring that the US military is able to meet its global commitments.

"Don't think this won't be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO moves quickly and irreversibly towards Europe taking the lead, stepping up and assuming primary responsibility for the defense of Europe," Hegseth said.

Hegseth also harshly criticized allies who did not support the US during the war with Iran, after some refused to allow the US to use bases and flyovers for war-related activities.

He said the US review would ensure that the US is guaranteed rights to use the bases and flyovers.

The US informed allies last month that it had decided to reduce the pool of US military capabilities available to the alliance in the event of a crisis, raising urgent questions as leaders prepare for a NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.

The move is aimed at gradually ending an "unhealthy interdependence" on US forces as Washington faces the possibility of simultaneous conflicts in multiple theaters, according to NATO's supreme commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grinkevich.

Arriving for a meeting with his colleagues at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Hegseth said the US would be honest, both publicly and privately, about countries that need to do more to meet their obligations.

"Some still need to do more, and we'll be honest about that, both privately and publicly. I think that's important - for friends to be honest with each other," Hegseth said.

NATO chief Mark Rutte confirmed that the reduction in the US contribution to NATO's crisis forces has already taken effect.

"Yesterday the question arose: is it immediate or not? Yes, immediate," he told reporters.

"However, the reason I'm a little hesitant to say that is because it's a planning instrument. So what would happen in reality? If war broke out... all the allies, including the US, would do the maximum of what they could to make sure we could fight the war."

Some ministers, entering the meeting in Brussels, made offers to increase contributions to NATO's crisis fund.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said his country would contribute more to NATO's crisis force to help replace some American capabilities, including F-16 fighter jets and MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones.

"There will be difficult discussions about who does what, but I can say that Belgium is contributing," the minister said.

Filling other gaps will take longer, as Europeans lack weapons such as deep-strike missiles, prompting German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to call for a coordinated process to prevent “dangerous capability gaps in Europe.”

"It is difficult and dangerous for the security of NATO territory in Europe if capabilities are withdrawn very quickly without it being clear when they can be replaced," he warned, citing deep strikes as one of the capabilities that is difficult to replace.

"We will need either temporary solutions or time before they are withdrawn. This will have to be negotiated with our American partners. In general, we will be able to make up for a lot, but we will need more time," Pistorius said.

The US has not publicly announced details of its cuts, but they range from in-flight refueling aircraft to fighter jets, drones and ships, according to a military source provided to Reuters.

The number of US F-15 and F-15E fighter jets available to NATO will be reduced by a third, to 99, and the number of MQ-4 and MQ-9 Reaper drones will be reduced by half, to 12, the source said.