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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the launch of a comprehensive review of the U.S. military presence in Europe, in a move that reflects Washington's shift towards redistributing its global defense burdens and urging European allies to take greater responsibility for protecting the continent.

During a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Hegseth clarified that the review will last up to six months and will be conducted in consultation with the U.S. Congress, which sets a minimum number of U.S. troops deployed in Europe.

Although he did not explicitly announce an imminent reduction of U.S. forces, his statements suggested the possibility of reconsidering the current military deployment, emphasizing that the goal is to ensure the United States can meet its global commitments while pushing European nations to take on a larger role in defending themselves.

Hegseth stated that the review will be "real and comprehensive," aiming to ensure NATO transitions to a phase where Europe takes actual leadership in the traditional defense responsibilities of the continent.

Criticism of Allies

The U.S. Defense Secretary criticized some allied countries that did not provide full support to the United States during the war with Iran, noting that some governments refused to grant U.S. forces facilities related to using military bases or airspace rights associated with military operations.

He added that the current review will take into account the level of cooperation from allied countries in providing these facilities in the future.

He also hinted at the possibility of reconsidering some U.S. financial contributions within the alliance if certain countries continue to fail to meet their commitments regarding increased defense spending, stressing that Washington will be "candid and transparent" in criticizing countries that do not meet the agreed-upon goals.

Reduction of U.S. Military Contributions

These statements come at a time when the United States has already begun to reduce some military capabilities it provides to NATO for emergencies and crises.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that these reductions have already taken effect, explaining that it concerns military planning tools, but he emphasized at the same time that all member states, including the United States, will mobilize their maximum capabilities if a large-scale conflict breaks out.

Washington had informed its allies last month of its decision to reduce part of the military capabilities allocated to NATO's response forces, raising widespread questions within the alliance about how to compensate for this shortfall before the upcoming summit scheduled in Ankara on July 7 and 8.

Europe Moves to Fill the Gap

Some European countries have already begun announcing additional contributions to compensate for some of the U.S. capabilities that will be reduced.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced that his country will increase its contributions to NATO's emergency forces, including F-16 fighters and MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones.

In contrast, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned of the risks of rapidly withdrawing U.S. capabilities before providing ready European alternatives, noting that some advanced military systems, such as long-range missiles and deep strike capabilities, cannot be easily or quickly replaced.

He confirmed that Europe is capable of compensating for a significant portion of the shortfall in the medium term, but it needs a transitional period and close coordination with the United States to avoid creating defense gaps that could affect the security of the continent.

Reduction in Aircraft and Drones

According to military information, the U.S. reductions include cutting the number of fighter jets, drones, ships, and refueling aircraft available for NATO operations.

Data indicates that the number of F-15 and F-15E fighters allocated to support the alliance will decrease by about one-third to 99 aircraft, while the number of MQ-4 and MQ-9 drones will be reduced by nearly half to 12 aircraft.

Strategic Shift

Observers see this move as reflecting a strategic shift within the U.S. administration aimed at ending what Washington describes as the "over-reliance" of European countries on U.S. military capabilities, especially in light of increasing global security challenges and the likelihood of the United States facing simultaneous crises in multiple regions around the world.

While Washington affirms its continued commitment to the security of the alliance, the key message emerging from the Brussels meeting was clear: Europe is called upon today more than ever to bear the greater burden of defending itself.