Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestylePete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, has announced a review of US forces in Europe, stating that the era of allies "free riding" on American defense spending is over.Speaking at a NATO meeting in Brussels, Hegseth criticized European nations, including the UK, for not meeting defense spending targets and for their reluctance to support US actions in the Iran conflict.Hegseth declared that the US would no longer pay disproportionately for NATO's defense, and American contributions would become contingent on other allies fulfilling their spending commitments.Britain's new defense secretary, Dan Jarvis, attended the summit without the UK's long-awaited defense investment plan, which has been delayed due to internal political disputes over funding.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the US stance, confirming that European members are actively working to replace the battlefield kit the US is withdrawing and are prepared to increase their contributions.In fullTrump’s war secretary tears into UK’s lack of defence plan as Dan Jarvis arrives at Nato summit empty-handedThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Pete Hegseth says US will review its European forces in latest Nato rebuke
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestylePete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, has announced a review of US forces in Europe, stating that the era of allies "free riding" on American defense spending is over.Speaking at a NATO meeting in Brussels, Hegseth criticized European nations, including the UK, for not meeting defense spending targets and for their reluctance to support US actions in the Iran conflict.Hegseth declared that the US would no longer pay disproportionately for NATO's defense, and American contributions would become contingent on other allies fulfilling their spending commitments.Britain's new defense secretary, Dan Jarvis, attended the summit without the UK's long-awaited defense investment plan, which has been delayed due to internal political disputes over funding.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the US stance, confirming that European members are actively working to replace the battlefield kit the US is withdrawing and are prepared to increase their contributions.In fullTrump’s war secretary tears into UK’s lack of defence plan as Dan Jarvis arrives at Nato summit empty-handedThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
