U.S. Announces Six‑Month Review of Forces in Europe and Urges a 'NATO 3.0'

Overview

• The Pentagon will carry out a six‑month review of U.S. forces in Europe that the Defense Secretary tied to how quickly European allies take primary responsibility for defending the continent.
• The defense secretary publicly criticized some NATO governments for denying U.S. base access and overflight needed for operations, saying that refusal risks U.S. personnel and must be resolved.
• The United States pressed for a harder‑line 'NATO 3.0' focused on conventional deterrence and said it will invest heavily in U.S. defense capacity, including a reported $1.5 trillion plan for 2027.
• Washington has already told allies it will withhold certain warships and aircraft in a crisis, prompting European states and Canada to scramble to fill capability gaps such as long‑range strike, tanking and drones.
• NATO’s collective‑defense clause does not oblige specific military help, so the review and U.S. limits could shift more of the burden for conventional defense onto European forces and shape preparations ahead of upcoming alliance meetings.