US Launches Review of Military Presence in Europe

The US has begun a review of its military presence in Europe as Washington pushes NATO allies to assume greater responsibility for the continent's conventional defense.

Elbridge Colby, the US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, said the review aims to ensure NATO moves "rapidly and irreversibly" towards a model in which Europe takes the lead in its own defense, echoing comments made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a NATO defense ministers' meeting in June.

Colby said the review is intended to accelerate NATO's transition into what he described as a stronger, fairer and more sustainable alliance.

The review follows US criticism of several European countries that refused to allow American forces to use NATO bases on their territory during the conflict with Iran. Hegseth has also warned that Washington could reduce its contribution to NATO's budget if member states fail to meet defense spending commitments agreed at last year's NATO summit in The Hague.

Under the agreement, allies pledged to allocate at least 5% of GDP to security spending by 2035, including 3.5% dedicated to core military expenditure.