Pete Hegseth accuses Nato countries of ‘free riding’ in combative address (opens original article in a new tab)

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to reduce military presence in NATO countries that fail to meet defense spending targets, accusing some of 'free riding' and criticizing their restrictions on US military operations. The review could lead to force reductions and affect NATO's deterrence capabilities, as the Trump administration pushes European allies to increase defense budgets to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

• Pete Hegseth announced a review of US military presence in Europe, threatening to cut forces in countries with low defense spending
• Hegseth accused some NATO countries of 'free riding' and criticized others for not allowing US jets to use their airbases during Iran strikes
• The US aims for European NATO members to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 and make Nato dues contingent on meeting targets
• Potential cuts include redeploying US aircraft and concerns about impacts on NATO's ability to monitor Russian submarines and deter Moscow