NATO criticism, force review

Hegseth's Brussels Dressing-Down of NATO Allies

Hegseth addressed NATO defense ministers in Brussels Wednesday morning before leaving the meeting early. He attacked allies who focused defense budgets on what he called "gender equity and climate change" instead of hard military power, according to Stars and Stripes. His sharpest words targeted countries that blocked U.S. use of their airbases during the Iran war. "These allies put America's sons and daughters at risk by denying them predictable access," he said. "It's shameful," Courthouse News reported.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte tried to keep the tone constructive. "I'm happy he does this, because we need to speak the truth to each other," Rutte said, according to The Guardian. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was more measured. "We know that we must do more and we are doing it," he said, per CBC News.

Operation Epic Fury Cracked the Alliance Open

The root of the tension is Operation Epic Fury. The U.S. and Israel launched the massive air campaign against Iran on February 28, 2026. Several NATO allies — most notably Spain — refused to grant overflight rights or allow their bases to be used for offensive strikes, according to Breaking Defense. Hegseth argued the alliance had become a one-way street: the U.S. defends Europe, but Europe would not help the U.S. fight its own war.

The campaign killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in its opening strikes. The fallout reshaped U.S. strategic thinking almost overnight. Within months, the Pentagon announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany while ordering 4,000–5,000 troops to Poland, which met U.S. spending expectations, Stars and Stripes reported.

Money, Troops, and the Ankara Deadline

Hegseth made clear the U.S. will use money as leverage. The U.S. pays roughly $790 million a year to fund NATO's operations. Hegseth said those dues will shrink for countries that do not hit spending targets. "Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down," he said, according to AFP. The Trump administration wants all allies to reach 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.

The pressure test comes fast. NATO holds its next summit in Ankara, Turkey on July 7–8. Allies are expected to show concrete plans for hitting the 5% target or risk further U.S. withdrawals, Daily Sabah reported. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who also serves as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, will lead the six-month force review. There are currently 80,000 U.S. troops stationed across Europe, according to Stars and Stripes.

Congress Alarmed as Cuts Move Without Hill Approval

The moves are drawing bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), the chairs of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, both expressed alarm that major force changes are happening without close coordination with Congress, AP News reported. European allies spent a combined $90 billion more on defense in 2025 alone, according to CBC News, but the administration says that pace is still too slow.