US to review benefits of having troops in Europe with ‘era of free-riding’ over – Europe live

Hegseth says the US will be “doubling down” on its efforts to get allies to spend what they need to spend. He says his department will conduct a six-month review of US forces in Europe . He says it will look at actual benefits of having US military in Europe – and will be a real review. “It will be designed to ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading , stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe.” He then goes further to say that the US dues to the Nato budget will be contingent on other countries meeting their defence spending targets. “ Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues, contributions will go down. Nato will be a two-way street.” He adds: “America cannot care for or pay more for Europe’s defence than our allies do.”