BRUSSELS: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO on Thursday that the Pentagon will review its force presence in Europe within six months, as he criticized allies over defense spending and their response to the Iran war.
"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 told a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
"It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colors."
The Pentagon chief said the move was also aimed at ensuring US "access, basing and overflight are clearly delineated and assured" after some European nations imposed restrictions on US forces during the Iran war.
