Hegseth blasts Nato for not giving US access to European bases during Iran war
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at Nato allies on Thursday, announcing a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe whose outcome will depend on how fast the Europeans take responsibility for their own security.
“This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly towards Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe,” he told his Nato counterparts in Brussels.
Hegseth lambasted European allies for failing to provide US forces access to bases in Europe to launch attacks on Iran, calling it “shameful”.
“These allies, they put America’s sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question at all,” he said.
Hegseth said Washington paying its dues to cover Nato organisational running costs – roughly some US$790 million in 2026 – would be “contingent” on allies reaching spending targets.
“Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down,” he said.