NATO Hegseth announces 6-month review of American forces in Europe, blasts NATO allies for putting troops 'at risk'

Fox News ^ | June 18, 2026 | Anders Hagstrom

[MinorityRepublican]

War Secretary Pete Hegseth had harsh words for NATO allies during an address to his European counterparts on Thursday, announcing a six-month review of U.S. force deployment on the continent.

Hegseth said the review's outcome will depend on how quickly European nations act to support themselves militarily.

"This 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," he told NATO officials in Brussels.

Hegseth also lashed out at European countries for refusing to assist U.S. forces in the war against Iran, particularly those that withheld use of military bases.

"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 then launched a more general critique of European policy, referencing migration and an emphasis on social policy over defense.

"Instead of tanks and fighters and air defenses, the focus has been on gender equity and climate change and defense austerity. Europe’s borders flew wide open, welfare states expanded, defense budgets cratered. Along with Europe’s belief in itself and its civilization," Hegseth said.

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TOPICS: European Union
KEYWORDS: europe; euroweenies; hegseth; nato; review

[hal ogen]

It is somewhat sad that the euros as a whole are parasitic lefty nitwits.

[Ninaq]

Harsh statement of reality.

[MinorityRepublican]

It is somewhat sad that the euros as a whole are parasitic lefty nitwits.

We can't leave NATO but we should withdraw troops from Europe and ignore them if they need our help.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Relocate them to Israel for peacekeeping.

U.S. Bases in Israel Will Deter the Next October 7
https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4381986/posts?page=1

The case for a permanent US base in Israel
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4381132/posts?page=1

[allendale]

The American backlash against our parasitic NATO allies which not only did not help but hindered our efforts in Iran, has begun. Who knows ? Perhaps before the 100th anniversary of the end of WW II, American forces will finally come home from Europe.

[MinorityRepublican]

Relocate them to Israel for peacekeeping.

I'm pro-Israel. But no.

They have to fight their own wars.

[voicereason]

Way past time. The question will be whether anything will really be done about it when the results are in. The current situation didn’t just happen overnight, and I doubt there will be any real change/s. Especially with our next-to-useless Congress.

It’s also a reason why I’m opposed to the major increase in Defense spending. Other than throwing money around, what will it really accomplish? Another area where history shows that if the budget is $X, then $X will be spent. Regardless of whether or not the taxpayers get anything for their money. The whole system needs a serious re-think, and rebuild from the ground up.

[No name given]

Indeed.

[No name given]

That’s the truth.

[mewzilla]

Congress isn’t useless.

Not to Deep State.

In 2024 Deep State had its Congressional servants ensure that a POTUS couldn’t unilaterally pull us out of NATO.

[cowboyusa]

THE ONE GREAT THING FROM THR FIASCO. IT DESTROYED NATO.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Time to cut the grifters loose.

[Seaplaner]

Hegseth also lashed out at European countries for refusing to assist U.S. forces in the war against Iran, particularly those that withheld use of military bases.

"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 then launched a more general critique of European policy, referencing migration and an emphasis on social policy over defense.

Our European (cough, cough) allies had responses questions as to why they were not taking part in the de-nukification of Iran that went along the lines of..."It's not our war".

This, even though the distance between Europe and Iran is roughly only half as great. (Think missile threat, here.)

My thought about Pete Hegseth is that I wish we had him when I wore the uniform back in the 60s. The Vietnam war might have concluded much earlier, and we might have been the victors.

[OKSooner]

Yes.

Bob McNamara and all the rest of LBJ's whiz kids all say hi, from wherever most of them are now...

LBJ too...

[ansel12]

Something destroyed NATO?

They just gained two nations and they are in the process of a major military buildup and are being pressured by the American president to grow stronger and to start looking to help us outside of Europe.

[ansel12]

JFK, is the one who led us into Vietnam, JFK and his whiz kids.

“The book focuses on the foreign policy crafted by academics and intellectuals who were in President John F. Kennedy’s administration and on the consequences of that policy in Vietnam. The book title refers to Kennedy’s “whiz kids”—leaders of industry and academia brought into his administration—whom Halberstam characterizes as insisting on “brilliant policies that defied common sense” in Vietnam, policies often implemented against the advice of career U.S. Department of State employees.”