Pete Hegseth announced a six-month us european forces review of America’s force posture and basing in Europe. He said the Department of War review could run for up to six months, or less.
Hegseth made the announcement in a video while criticizing NATO allies for how they handled U.S. requests tied to basing and overflight. He said, "It was shameful."
Europe Basing Under Review
The review will examine America’s force posture and basing in Europe. Hegseth linked it to the broader question of how the United States accesses European bases and airspace for military operations.
Hegseth said the issue reaches beyond paperwork. The president said U.S. jets would need to take off from bases in Europe or U.S. ships from ports to strike targets in the Middle East.
NATO Allies Face Access Pressure
Hegseth said too many allies said no or tried to drown the United States in arcane legal debates. He also said some allies criticized the United States publicly for doing what they are not prepared or able to do themselves.
He said those responses were putting America’s sons and daughters at risk by denying predictable access, basing and overflight. That leaves the review centered on whether Europe’s current arrangements stay in place as written or get reshaped over the next six months.
Six-Month Timeline
Hegseth’s timeline gives U.S. allies in Europe a defined window, but not a fixed outcome. The review could be shorter than six months, he said, which keeps the next decision inside the Department of War rather than on a far-off schedule.
The immediate next step is the review itself, which will examine the United States’ military posture and basing in Europe. Hegseth’s comments leave NATO allies facing a period in which access, basing and overflight arrangements are under official scrutiny.
