U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe during a NATO summit in Brussels [1].
The move signals a fundamental shift in the transatlantic security alliance, placing a higher burden of defense on European nations. By conditioning future troop deployments on the willingness of allies to fund their own security, the Trump administration is challenging the traditional U.S.-led security architecture of the region.
Speaking Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, Hegseth said he has a plan for a "NATO 3.0" reboot [2]. Under this proposal, the U.S. intends to scale back the military resources it provides to NATO allies during wartime [3]. U.S. officials said European nations must assume primary responsibility for their own security before the U.S. deploys additional troops [4].
Hegseth said certain aspects of the current arrangement are "shameful" [1]. The proposed review will last six months [1] to determine the future footprint of American personnel on the continent.
While the administration prepares to reduce resources available during crises, some reports have suggested a more drastic shift. Euronews said that reports of a total withdrawal of all U.S. personnel from Europe are false [5]. This contradicts some interpretations of the scaling-back process, though the publication noted that real reports of reduced support do exist [5].
European allies have reacted with varying degrees of concern. Some officials said they brushed aside worries that the U.S. has already stepped back from its leadership role [6]. However, the "NATO 3.0" framework suggests a transition toward a model where the U.S. acts as a secondary support system rather than the primary guarantor of European stability [3].
The review focuses on the efficiency of current troop placements, and the financial contributions of member states. The administration said that the U.S. cannot continue to provide a security umbrella without proportional investment from its partners [4].
“European nations must assume primary responsibility for their own security before additional U.S. troops are deployed”
The transition to 'NATO 3.0' represents a move toward a transactional security model. By implementing a formal review and demanding higher European spending, the U.S. is attempting to decouple its national budget from the primary defense costs of Western Europe, potentially altering the deterrence strategy against regional adversaries.
