Hegseth announces review of U.S. forces in Europe, blasts "shameful" NATO allies

The Pentagon is launching a six-month review of U.S. forces and bases in Europe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday at a meeting of NATO defense ministers, shortly after he accused allies of "shameful" inaction during the Iran war . Without naming specific nations, he called out allies for criticizing the U.S. campaign against Iran and denying permission for the U.S. to use some bases in Europe for launching aircraft or ships. "It's shameful," Hegseth said. "These allies, they put America's sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access facing overflight that never should have been in question at all." He said that dynamic is part of why the U.S. will launch what he called a "NATO 3.0" review of U.S. troops in Europe that could take six months or less. NATO 3.0 is an initiative introduced in February by Undersecretary of Defense For Policy Elbridge Colby, who said it was time for European countries to take primary responsibility for the continent's conventional defense. On Thursday, Hegseth said NATO 2.0, which he called "an era of freeriding," is over. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks ahead of the NATO Defense Ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 18, 2026. Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images His announcement of the review of U.S. forces in Europe comes ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month, which President Trump is expected to attend. …