Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced a Pentagon-led review of U.S. forces in Europe, and ripped NATO allies over defense spending and not taking part in the war against Iran.
“It’s a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colors,” he told defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The move comes as the Trump administration moves to cut back forces and equipment from Europe.
The U.S. was expected to discuss plans Thursday with NATO allies in Brussels to cut the number of fighter jets, reconnaissance drones and warships it would activate to support Europe in case of war or a crisis, according to The Washington Post. The U.S. would reportedly pull back about a third of U.S. fighter jets and strategic bombers, sending the alliance scrambling to fill the gaps.