U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday launched a six-month Pentagon review of American military forces in Europe, warning NATO allies that Washington may reduce troop deployments and financial contributions if they fail to meet defense spending targets amid rising transatlantic tensions over Europe’s response to the Iran war.

Speaking at a NATO summit in Brussels, Hegseth accused European allies of “free riding” on U.S. security guarantees and condemned what he described as “shameful” restrictions imposed on American bases during the conflict in Iran. “The era of other countries taking a free ride on U.S. defense is over,” he told reporters . “Europe must take primary responsibility for its own security.”

The review, announced during a tense meeting with NATO defense ministers, will assess the future posture of U.S. forces across the continent, including deployments in Germany, Poland, and the Baltics. Hegseth emphasized that Washington’s continued support would be contingent on allies meeting the alliance’s long-standing target of spending 2% of GDP on defense—a benchmark many European members have yet to achieve. “NATO dues are not optional,” he said, framing the review as a direct response to what he called Europe’s inadequate burden-sharing .

The Pentagon chief’s remarks came as European leaders gathered in Brussels for a separate summit, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined discussions on EU accession talks and peace negotiations with Russia. While the timing of Hegseth’s announcement appeared to overshadow the EU’s deliberations, diplomats noted that the two forums were addressing distinct but overlapping security challenges .

Reactions from European capitals were swift. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo defended his country’s defense contributions, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged the need for greater European defense autonomy but warned that abrupt changes could destabilize regional security . Meanwhile, British officials faced criticism after their delegation arrived at the NATO summit without a clear defense plan, a point Hegseth seized upon in his remarks .

Analysts suggest the review reflects broader shifts in U.S. foreign policy under the current administration, which has prioritized Indo-Pacific security while demanding greater burden-sharing from European allies. The outcome of the six-month assessment could reshape NATO’s military footprint in Europe and test the alliance’s cohesion in an era of heightened geopolitical rivalry.

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