{"id":2615769,"date":"2026-06-18T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pete-hegseth-shames-nato-leaders-to-their-faces-demands-they-take-responsibility-for-the-defense-of-europe\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T17:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:01:35","slug":"pete-hegseth-shames-nato-leaders-to-their-faces-demands-they-take-responsibility-for-the-defense-of-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pete-hegseth-shames-nato-leaders-to-their-faces-demands-they-take-responsibility-for-the-defense-of-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Pete Hegseth Shames NATO Leaders to Their Faces, Demands They Take &#8216;Responsibility for the Defense of Europe&#8217;"},"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\">34<\/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%2Fpete-hegseth-shames-nato-leaders-to-their-faces-demands-they-take-responsibility-for-the-defense-of-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=2615769&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>The article features a statement from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressing NATO allies, emphasizing the need for Europe to take primary responsibility for its defense.He announced a upcoming six-month review aimed at transforming NATO into &#8220;NATO 3.0,&#8221; a more robust military alliance capable of deterring threats without heavy US involvement.Hegseth criticized European nations for declining US military support and underfunding their defense budgets, calling for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-has-the-pentagon-surrendered-norfolk-naval-base-to-nato\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Has The Pentagon Surrendered Norfolk Naval Base To NATO?\">increased defense spending<\/a> and responsibility sharing. He highlighted the importance of ensuring fair US contributions based on allies\u2019 compliance with spending targets. Additionally, he stressed that future NATO dues will depend on countries meeting their defense commitments, advocating for a more reciprocal and strengthened alliance to safeguard Europe&#8217;s security.  <\/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\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Secretary of War Pete Hegseth dished out a dose of tough love to NATO allies Thursday, telling them that the U.S. will take a hard look at its force structure in Europe with an eye toward letting Europe increasingly protect itself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis 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,\u201d he told his NATO counterparts in Brussels, according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/europe\/hegseth-nato-review-us-forces-europe-iran-war-brussels-rcna350660\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth called the refusal of alleged allies to allow U.S. planes to use their bases during the Iran War \u201cshameful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese allies, they put America\u2019s 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth said it is time to build \u201cNATO 3.0\u201d that can handle threats without the United States doing all the work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNATO 3.0 is post-Cold War recognition that (NATO) needs to go back to a real hard-line military alliance that has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >real military capabilities capable<\/a> of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defense of Europe,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<p>Allies \u201chave to be willing to stand up and do something in a strong way about\u201d defending their own continent.<\/p>\n<p>That will be a major change, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInstead of tanks and fighters and air defenses, the focus has been on gender equity and climate change and defense austerity. Europe\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-to-nato-us-dues-contingent-on-nato-countries-meeting-their-defense-spending-goals\/\" title=\"... to NATO: &#039;US dues contingent on NATO ... their ... spending goals&#039;\">borders flew wide open<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shapiro-debunking-the-myth-of-a-scandinavian-socialist-paradise\/\" title=\"SHAPIRO: Debunking The Myth Of A Scandinavian Socialist Paradise\">welfare states expanded<\/a>, defense budgets cratered, along with Europe\u2019s belief in itself and its civilization,\u201d Hegseth said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/hegseth-announces-6-month-review-american-forces-europe-blasts-nato-allies-putting-troops-risk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a>,<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth said the review would last no longer than six months, according to a news release on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.war.gov\/News\/News-Stories\/Article\/Article\/4521330\/war-department-review-to-ensure-nato-30-becomes-europe-led-defense-alliance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">War Department website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to keep a close eye on allies who are not doing that and who say \u2018no,\u2019 or \u2018maybe\u2019 or \u2018wait and see\u2019 when it matters most,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colors. In the end, the review is intended to both improve U.S. force posture and basing and strengthen NATO 3.0.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the right thing to do by the American people; it\u2019s the right thing to do by this alliance. Europe can and must take primary responsibility for its conventional defense as it pledged at The Hague Summit and in the process, safeguarding Europe\u2019s defense for generations to come,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The review, he said, will \u201censure our forces are postured for America\u2019s global needs, and stepping up to make sure that our access, basing and overflight are clearly delineated and assured.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">NATO 3.0: Europe must take the lead. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9mosHqg0BD\">pic.twitter.com\/9mosHqg0BD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecWar\/status\/2067570793081426326?\">June 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoing forward, our annual NATO dues will be contingent on other countries meeting their defense spending targets; where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNATO will be a two-way street. It\u2019s only common sense. America cannot care for or pay more for Europe\u2019s defense than our allies do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth said the U.S. will not abandon its partners, but neither will it pay their  of costs for defense.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-of-appeals-in-swing-states-drop-major-ruling-hurting-kamala-harris-chances-against-trump\/\" title=\"Court of Appeals in Swing States Drop Major Ruling, Hurting Kamala Harris&#039; Chances Against Trump\">highly engaged readers<\/a>, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a stern message to NATO allies Thursday, announcing that the U.S. will thoroughly reassess its military presence in Europe with the goal of enabling Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defense. He emphasized that this review aims to ensure NATO moves decisively toward European-led security efforts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2615770,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Hegseth-to-NATO.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[51366,50459,44930],"class_list":["post-2615769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-european-defense","tag-nato-2","tag-pete-hegseth"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Hegseth-to-NATO.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615769","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615769"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615773,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615769\/revisions\/2615773"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}