{"id":2615477,"date":"2026-06-18T07:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-announces-nato-3-0-review-of-us-force-posture-in-europe\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T07:48:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:48:17","slug":"hegseth-announces-nato-3-0-review-of-us-force-posture-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-announces-nato-3-0-review-of-us-force-posture-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Hegseth announces &#8216;NATO 3.0&#8217; review of US force posture in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhegseth-announces-nato-3-0-review-of-us-force-posture-in-europe%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2615477&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a new six-month military review called &#8220;NATO 3.0,&#8221; focused on Europe\u2019s force posture and basing strategies. The Pentagon plans to reduce its military presence in Europe, expecting allied nations to fill the resulting gaps.Hegseth emphasized that NATO should be a two-way partnership, criticizing some European countries for insufficient support during conflicts like the Iran war, and for their reluctance to assist in U.S.-lead operations. The review aims to examine and possibly reconfigure U.S. and allied forces in Europe, with input from Congress and partners. Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, discussions also addressed the U.S.troop contributions, which have decreased, though NATO allies remain committed to collective defense in wartime. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opec-to-meet-to-discuss-oil-production-quotas-for-september\/\" title=\"OPEC+ to Meet to Discuss Oil Production Quotas for September\">meeting takes place<\/a> against a backdrop of ongoing debates about European countries&#8217; defense spending, with many allies still not meeting the increased minimum contributions required by NATO.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BRUSSELS, BELGIUM \u2013 Secretary of War <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\">Pete Hegseth<\/a> announced a new six-month military review of its European posture during the opening and public portion of Thursday\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nato\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"603\">NATO<\/a> defense ministers meeting in Brussels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Led by Hegseth, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pentagon\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"271\">Pentagon<\/a> has made it known that the department intends to reduce its forces \u2013 which includes fighter jets, strategic bombers, submarines, and more \u2013 in Europe and expects other European countries to fill the gaps left behind. They\u2019ve dubbed the new version of the alliance \u201cNATO 3.0.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4613112\/edwards-air-force-base-releases-names-people-died-b-52-crash\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Edwards Air Force Base releases names of people who died in B-52 crash<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4610648\/thwarted-attack-plot-ufc-fight-drone-threat\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thwarted UFC drone plot underscores \u2018warfare literally has come to our streets\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4611814\/b52-crash-edwards-afb-details\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>B-52 descended at nearly a mile a minute before crash that killed eight<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m announcing today, a six month Department of War review that will examine America\u2019s force posture and basing in Europe \u2013 up to six months, could be less,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s call it the NATO 3.0 review. This review will be conducted with the benefit of input from the United States military from European Command, it will involve consultations with the U.S. Congress and with our allies. But make no mistakes, this will be a real review.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While he announced the review on Thursday, the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\"> Trump administration<\/a> has long talked about the need for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/europe\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"81\">Europe<\/a> to reduce its reliance on the U.S. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"266\">military<\/a> and do more to equalize the burden.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNATO will be a two-way street. It\u2019s only common sense,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a review some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The secretary referenced the lack of European support during the U.S. and Israel\u2019s war in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> as a sign that the NATO alliance was a one-way street. Some European countries said they would help ships transit the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"21488\"> Strait of Hormuz<\/a> once the war ended, while others refused to allow the U.S. military to use their bases and airspace to launch operations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs President Trump put it and rightfully so, he gave our allies a test, to support America when we ask for their help and too many failed it. The United States has defended Europe for generations and all the president said was our jets would need to take off from bases in Europe or our ships from ports to strike targets in the Middle East,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cBut too many of our allies said no or tried to down us in arcane legal debates or criticized us publicly for doing what they aren\u2019t prepared or able to do themselves. It was shameful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hegseth\u2019s announcement of the review came during the open portion of the defense minister\u2019s meeting, and at the conclusion of his remarks, the media was ushered out of the room for their <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >closed door discussion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ahead of the meeting, NATO Secretary General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-rutte\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11778\">Mark Rutte<\/a> acknowledged the U.S. has reduced its contributions to NATO\u2019s crisis forces effective immediately, but said that in the event of a war, \u201call allies, including the U.S., will max out what they can do to make sure we can fight the war.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is immediately, however, why I\u2019m a bit reluctant to say this is because it\u2019s a planning tool,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cWe have to consider the fact that the U.S. is lowering its contribution, still considerable, but somewhat lower than it was in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added, \u201cThe good news is that when it comes to the planning tool that Europeans are already backfitting a lot of those resources. In other cases, we are nearly there and there are still areas where we need more work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of Thursday\u2019s meeting was a prelude to next month\u2019s NATO Summit in Ankara, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/turkey\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"234\">Turkey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4613001\/read-iran-mou-deal\/\">READ IN FULL: THE 14-POINT PEACE AGREEMENT WITH IRAN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump has had a turbulent relationship with Europe dating back to his first term, largely due to his view that they have not contributed an adequate amount to their own defense, instead relying on the U.S. Upon returning to the White House last year, he pushed the NATO alliance to increase the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-will-trumps-greenland-obsession-mean-for-the-future-of-nato\/\" title=\"What will Trump&#039;s Greenland obsession mean for the future of NATO?\">defense spending minimum requirement<\/a> from 2% of Gross Domestic Product to 5%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NATO alliance introduced the 2% requirement in 2014, but it took until last year for every country to meet that minimum. Also last year, under the president\u2019s insistence, the alliance increased that minimum to 5%, which includes 3.5% to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-to-meet-with-middle-eastern-leaders-at-g7-summit-overshadowed-by-iran-and-ukraine-wars\/\" title=\"Trump to meet with Middle Eastern leaders at G7 summit overshadowed by Iran and Ukraine ...s\">fund core defense<\/a>. Many countries will not meet that mark for years.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2025 alone, NATO allies in Europe, combined with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/canada\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"366\">Canada<\/a>, increased their defense spending by 20% compared to the year prior, according to the NATO annual report released in March. That translates to a $90 billion increase in spending.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hegseth announces 6-month NATO Europe force review<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2671,"featured_media":2615478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169307360373.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50349,38483,50459,81358,36116],"class_list":["post-2615477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-european-security","tag-military-strategy","tag-nato-2","tag-nato-3-0","tag-us-forces"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169307360373.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2671"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615477"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615481,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615477\/revisions\/2615481"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}