The warning shot has been fired across the bows of European nations, as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth embarked on a robust campaign to persuade NATO allies to meet their defence spending commitments. Speaking at a tense meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, Mr Hegseth signalled that a comprehensive review of American military presence across Europe will be conducted, with potential troop cuts looming for countries that fail to meet the 3.5% of GDP target by 2035.
Mr Hegseth's remarks were made during a closed-door session, attended by the UK's new Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis, who listened intently as his American counterpart laid bare the frustrations of Washington with some nations' lacklustre defence efforts. The US Secretary accused certain countries of "free riding" on US defence efforts and expressed disapproval at others for refusing to permit their airbases to be used by US aircraft in operations targeting Iran earlier this spring.
The Trump administration's long-term objective is for European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for the defence of their own continent against potential threats from Russia. Mr Hegseth implied that some countries would "fail" this review, potentially facing the withdrawal of US forces, including a possible redeployment of a third of the 150 US F-16 and F-15 jets currently designated for NATO, alongside refuelling, reconnaissance aircraft, bombers, and drones.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged Mr Hegseth's outspoken approach, stating that it was necessary "to speak the truth to each other" in order to maintain pressure on European nations. Meanwhile, the UK's new Defence Secretary arrived at the summit acknowledging "a moment of challenge" but did not make any new commitments regarding the UK's overall defence budget.
Mr Hegseth also directly addressed Mr Jarvis, expressing that it was "unacceptable" for NATO allies to be "standing at the end of a runway with a clipboard to decide what flies," in a pointed reference to restrictions imposed by some European nations on US jets involved in the strikes against Iran. The UK had permitted the use of its airbases for this operation, and Mr Hegseth's words may serve as a warning to other countries that have refused similar access.
The UK did announce a £750 million package to equip Ukraine with drones and air defence missiles, funded through loans secured against frozen Russian central bank assets. As tensions between Moscow and the West escalate, this move is seen by some analysts as a calculated response to Mr Hegseth's call for greater European responsibility.