BRUSSELS: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Nato the Pentagon will review its force presence in Europe within six months, as he lashed out at allies over defence spending and their response to the Iran war. "This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe," Hegseth told a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels. "It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colours."
The Pentagon chief said the move was also aimed at ensuring US "access, basing and overflight are clearly delineated and assured" after some European nations imposed restrictions on US forces during the Iran war. "It was shameful. These allies, they put America's sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk," he said. "There's no excuse for that." The United States is piling on the pressure ahead of a Nato summit next month as it seeks to make sure that allies make good on a pledge made last year to massively ramp up defence spending.
Hegseth said going forward that Washington paying its dues to cover Nato organisational running costs — roughly some $790 million in 2026 — would be "contingent" on allies reaching spending targets. "Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down," he said. — AFP
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