U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. forces stationed in Europe during a press briefing in Brussels on Thursday [1].
The move signals a potential shift in the American security posture toward its Atlantic allies. By questioning the current deployment of troops, the Pentagon is linking U.S. military presence directly to the financial and political contributions of NATO member states.
Hegseth spoke on June 18, 2026 [2], ahead of a NATO summit. He said alliance members failed to meet the 2% of GDP defense-spending target [3]. He also said he was dissatisfied with the stance European allies have taken regarding the conflict with Iran [3].
"Europe must take the lead on its own security," Hegseth said [4].
The Secretary of Defense said the current distribution of responsibility is unbalanced. He said European partners have lagged in their spending commitments and have been hesitant to confront Iran, which necessitates a reassessment of how the U.S. maintains its force posture in the region [5].
"NATO allies are falling short of the 2% defence-spending target and are not taking a firm stance on Iran," he said [3].
The upcoming review will evaluate whether U.S. troop levels remain appropriate given the commitment levels of other member nations. This process will last six months [1].
"We will conduct a six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe to ensure we are aligned with European partners' commitments," Hegseth said [6].
“"Europe must take the lead on its own security,"”
This announcement suggests a transition toward a more transactional relationship between the U.S. and NATO. By tying the presence of U.S. troops to specific GDP spending targets and foreign policy alignment on Iran, the Pentagon is applying diplomatic and military pressure on European nations to increase their autonomy and defense budgets.
