NATO 3.0 is taking shape Europe as U.S. reviews troop presence in Europe

The United States has launched a formal review of its military presence in Europe, signalling that Washington expects European allies to take far greater responsibility for the continent’s defence as U.S. strategic attention increasingly shifts towards the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon would conduct a review of American force deployments across Europe over the coming months. While he stopped short of outlining specific troop reductions, his message to allies was unmistakable: Europe must prepare for a future in which the United States plays a less dominant role in its conventional defence.

“Make no mistake about it, this will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,” Hegseth said, describing the process as part of a broader effort to ensure NATO moves “rapidly and irreversibly toward a Europe that assumes leadership and primary responsibility for European defence.”

The announcement represents one of the clearest indications yet that the Trump administration intends to reshape the transatlantic security relationship, not by abandoning NATO but by redefining the division of responsibilities within the alliance.

For years, successive U.S. administrations have urged European governments to increase defence spending. Under President Donald Trump, however, the pressure has become more direct, with Washington increasingly arguing that Europe can no longer rely indefinitely on American military guarantees while failing to develop sufficient capabilities of its own.

Hegseth openly criticised NATO members that continue to lag behind agreed defence spending targets, warning that Washington would not hesitate to identify underperforming allies publicly.

“(There are) some that still need to do more, and we will be candid about that, both in private and in public. I think that’s important, friends being honest with friends,” Hegseth said.

Although he did not name specific countries, the remarks appeared aimed at governments that have remained reluctant to substantially increase military expenditure, including Spain, which has repeatedly taken a cautious position regarding NATO’s spending ambitions.

The Pentagon chief went even further by linking burden-sharing to recent geopolitical crises. Hegseth accused several European allies of failing to adequately support the United States during its military confrontation with Iran, arguing that some governments had denied access to bases, ports or airspace when Washington sought operational assistance.

The United States has defended Europe for generations, he said, arguing that American requests during the conflict had been met with reluctance, legal objections and public criticism.

“Too many allies said no, or tried to drown us in abstract legal arguments, or publicly criticised us for doing what they were not ready or capable of doing on their own. It was shameful,” Hegseth said.

His comments underline a growing frustration within parts of the U.S. administration that some European governments continue to benefit from American security guarantees while hesitating to support Washington’s military initiatives abroad.

The review of troop deployments comes alongside a reduction in the military capabilities that the United States has pre-assigned to NATO planning structures.

According to information shared with allies, Washington intends to reduce the number of fighter aircraft, drones, refuelling assets and naval resources allocated to NATO contingency plans. Reports suggest that F-15 and F-15E fighter aircraft assigned to alliance planning could be cut by roughly one-third, while allocations of MQ-4 and MQ-9 surveillance drones may be halved.

While NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to downplay immediate concerns, he acknowledged that the reductions are already being implemented.

“It’s immediate,” Rutte said, while stressing that in the event of a major conflict all allies, including the United States, would mobilise their maximum available capabilities.

Nevertheless, European officials have expressed concern that some of the capabilities being scaled back cannot easily be replaced. Air-to-air refuelling, long-range strike assets and advanced intelligence and surveillance platforms remain areas where many European militaries continue to depend heavily on American support.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned against moving too quickly, arguing that a rapid reduction without adequate replacements could create “dangerous gaps” in Europe’s defence posture.

The debate reflects a broader strategic reality confronting European governments. Russia’s war against Ukraine has highlighted the importance of military readiness, while uncertainty about the long-term scale of U.S. involvement is accelerating discussions about European defence autonomy.

The prospect of a reduced U.S. military footprint has already prompted some European allies to signal a willingness to fill part of the gap.

Belgium announced it would increase its contribution to NATO’s crisis-response forces, including through the deployment of F-16 fighter jets and MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones. However, European officials acknowledge that replacing certain American capabilities will be far more difficult. In particular, Europe still lacks sufficient deep-strike systems, strategic enablers and some intelligence and surveillance assets. According to figures cited by Reuters, the number of U.S. F-15 and F-15E fighter aircraft assigned to NATO planning could fall by around one-third, while allocations of MQ-4 and MQ-9 drones may be cut by half, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing European militaries.

For Rutte, however, the shift should not be interpreted as American disengagement but rather as the next stage in NATO’s evolution.

“NATO 3.0 is truly taking shape,” the alliance chief said, describing the process as the emergence of “a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO”.

Under this model, Washington would continue to provide nuclear deterrence and key strategic capabilities, while European allies assume greater responsibility for conventional defence on the continent.

Hegseth echoed that vision, arguing that NATO must return to being “a truly hard-line military alliance” capable of deterring major threats through military strength rather than political declarations alone.

The Pentagon chief also pointed to the administration’s planned $1.5 trillion defence budget for fiscal year 2027 as evidence that the United States is not retreating from global security commitments but repositioning itself for future challenges.

For Europe, however, the message from Brussels was clear. The era in which the continent could rely overwhelmingly on American military power may be drawing to a close. Whether European governments can fill the resulting gaps quickly enough could become one of the defining security questions of the decade.

Sources: www.focuseurope.it, BGNES

Caption: (L-R) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto (R, back) pose for a family photo at Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 18 June 2026. NATO defense ministers are discussing strengthening Allied deterrence and defense, increasing defense investment commitments, enhancing defense industrial capacity, continued support for Ukraine, and preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. EPA/Olivier Hoslet