Trump-Style NATO Reorganization Begins in Earnest... "US Troops in Europe to Be Reviewed for 6 Months"

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the United States will conduct a new review of US troop deployments in Europe over the next six months.

He also warned that the US will withhold a portion of its contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if allies fail to keep their defense spending commitments and continue to "free ride" on security.

Speaking at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday, June 18 (local time), Hegseth reiterated pressure on European allies to reduce their reliance on the US for the defense of the European continent and to make greater contributions themselves.

In his speech, Hegseth announced plans for a new review of US troop deployments in Europe, emphasizing that the upcoming six-month review would not be a mere formality but an opportunity to examine the practical benefits of keeping US forces in Europe.

He also explained that the review would include consultations with the US Congress, which legally mandates the minimum size of US forces in Europe.

"This is designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe," he said.

Reuters reported that while Hegseth did not explicitly state that the review could lead to reductions in US force deployments in Europe, it is aimed at prompting European nations to take greater responsibility for their own defense and ensuring that the US military can meet its global commitments.

Hegseth also warned that US contributions to NATO depend on other allies meeting their defense spending targets.

"If other allies do not urgently spend on defense, our contribution will decrease," he urged, adding, "NATO must be a two-way partnership."

"The US cannot take more responsibility or pay more for Europe's defense than the allies themselves," Hegseth added.

As of last year, the US accounted for 60% of total NATO defense spending, spending more than all other 31 member states combined.

Under US pressure to increase defense spending, NATO agreed at a summit in The Hague, Netherlands, in June last year to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035 and has been increasing its defense spending. However, some countries, such as Spain, are still evaluated as falling short of their commitments.

Hegseth also criticized some allies in his speech for denying US forces access to bases and airspace transit during the war in Iran, stating that the new review of US forces in Europe would also check whether the base access and airspace transit rights the US needs in the future are secured.

Hegseth also urged European allies to take the lead in European defense, transforming NATO into a truly "hardline" military alliance.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, he emphasized that the transatlantic alliance needs to be reborn as "NATO 3.0," capable of deterring any threat. "The European alliance must have real military capabilities capable of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defense of Europe," he stressed.

Hegseth's remarks come as European allies are grappling with how to fill security gaps after the US recently notified them that it would no longer supply certain military assets, such as fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers, even if a member state comes under attack.

The Donald Trump administration is seeking to reduce the size of forces dedicated to Europe, arguing that the US needs to secure more military resources to prepare for multiple simultaneous conflicts that could occur in various parts of the world.

According to US media reports, including The New York Times, the US plans to cut the number of F-16 and F-15 fighter jets deployed in Europe by one-third, from 150 to 100, and reduce maritime patrol aircraft from 26 to 15.

Aerial refueling tankers and drones are also subject to reductions, and the US plans to withdraw one cruise-missile-capable submarine and one of its two aircraft carrier strike groups.

However, the US made it clear that it has no plans to withdraw nuclear weapons deployed in Europe, which play a key role in NATO's deterrence.

In this regard, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the reduction of the US contribution to NATO's crisis response forces, which are designed to respond quickly in times of crisis, is already underway.

"Yesterday (at a press conference), a question was raised about whether the US measures would be implemented immediately," Rutte said. "The answer to that is 'they are implemented immediately.'"

He added, however, "The reason I am a bit hesitant to speak so categorically is that this is, after all, for planning purposes," emphasizing that "in an actual war scenario, all allies, including the United States, would mobilize all possible capabilities to the maximum extent."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.