Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the review during NATO defense ministers' talks, saying it will examine troop levels, basing rights and overflight permissions across Europe.
- Hegseth publicly rebuked some allies for denying U.S. access during operations related to the Iran war and said allies that fail the review could see reduced U.S. contributions to NATO’s common budget.
- The U.S. has already told NATO it will reduce certain high‑end assets available in a crisis, a move NATO planners are addressing by drawing contingency plans and reassigning responsibilities.
- NATO leadership stressed the alliance remains committed to collective defense, and the Nuclear Planning Group issued a statement reaffirming nuclear deterrence as planners work to fill capability gaps.
- European governments have increased defense spending sharply—about $90 billion year‑on‑year—and leaders are accelerating efforts to backfill U.S. reductions ahead of the July NATO summit in Ankara.