Hegseth Orders Review of U.S. Forces in Europe and Demands a 'NATO 3.0'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of U.S. forces in Europe on Thursday and called for a sweeping overhaul of the transatlantic alliance into what he termed a "NATO 3.0," in a confrontational appearance in Brussels that put European capitals on notice. The outcome of the review, he said, will hinge on how quickly Europeans take on responsibility for their own defense.

"Make no mistake about it, this will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast" toward European defense leadership, Hegseth said. He described his vision in stark terms: "NATO 3.0 is post-Cold War recognition that it needs to go back to a real hard-line military alliance that has real military capabilities capable of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defense of Europe."

Hegseth used the platform to vent grievances from the recently concluded Iran war, accusing European allies of failing to grant U.S. forces access to bases on the continent from which to launch strikes on Iran. He called the refusals "shameful." Looking ahead to his assessment of allied contributions, he warned bluntly that "some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colors."

The defense secretary also threatened to withhold U.S. dues to NATO if allies do not meet their spending commitments, and reiterated a demand he first made in May that members devote 3.5% of gross domestic product to defense. The review, he said, would be conducted in consultation with Congress and could reduce the availability of U.S. military assets in future crises unless allies guarantee American basing and overflight rights going forward.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sought to highlight progress, noting that allies spent $90 billion more on defense last year — a 20% increase over 2024 — and acknowledging that some force adjustments would be "immediate." But the gap between Washington's demands and European capacity was on stark display, with Hegseth's language signaling a more transactional and impatient posture than the alliance has weathered in decades.

The announcement lands at a delicate moment, days after the United States signed a framework to end its war with Iran and amid continuing pressure on European governments to backstop Ukraine. For allies long accustomed to American security guarantees, Hegseth's message was unmistakable: the terms of the partnership are being rewritten, and the burden is shifting east across the Atlantic.