Hegseth announces review of US forces in Europe, criticizes NATO allies

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. forces and bases in Europe at a NATO defense ministers meeting on Thursday, after accusing unnamed allies of "shameful" inaction. Hegseth said some allies denied permission for the U.S. to use bases in Europe for launching aircraft or ships, putting American service members at risk. The review, called "NATO 3.0," follows an initiative introduced in February by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who said European countries should take primary responsibility for the continent's conventional defense. Hegseth said "NATO 2.0, an era of freeriding, is over." The announcement comes ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month, which President Trump is expected to attend, and amid bipartisan congressional concerns over recent troop withdrawals. There are currently about 80,000 U.S. troops in Europe, and Congress has required the Pentagon to submit a plan before cutting forces below 76,000. Hegseth also criticized allies for not showing progress toward spending 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, a target set at last year's NATO summit in The Hague.

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Sources: CBS News