U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth strongly criticized NATO allies for imposing restrictions on American access to European bases during a potential conflict with Iran. Hegseth warned that the Pentagon will review U.S. military contributions to the alliance to evaluate how quickly and effectively European members are taking on security responsibilities.
During a speech in Brussels, Hegseth emphasized that the review will focus on defense spending adequacy and the need for Europe to lead in its defense. He stated that the assessment will determine which countries meet the standards and which ones fall short.
Hegseth’s remarks, which included critiques of European gender and migration policies, were met with silence from NATO allies. He left the meeting early, leaving NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to address the concerns raised.
The Pentagon recently reduced the list of forces that would be deployed to NATO in emergencies, prompting European allies to seek additional resources to fill potential gaps. The Trump administration aims to prepare for dual conflicts and enhance military capabilities for potential engagements in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly against China.
Following the meeting, Rutte defended allies that have increased defense spending significantly, acknowledging the U.S.’s evaluation of its role in NATO’s force posture. He supported the need for a thorough review, emphasizing that it will take several months to complete.
As preparations continue for the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, allies are expected to present credible plans to meet revised defense spending targets by 2035. Canada, in particular, has faced criticism from senior Pentagon officials for not yet providing such a plan, although it has surpassed the two percent GDP target for defense spending and is progressing towards higher targets in the coming years.