When US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Nato allies that some would "fail" a coming review, it was the bluntest signal yet that Washington expects Europe to take charge of its own security. In June 2026, Hegseth announced a six-month review of the American military footprint across Europe, including troop levels, bases, and access rights. The move is part of what he calls "Nato 3.0" — a harder-edged alliance in which Europe leads on conventional defence while the US reorients toward other global priorities. For the UK, the announcement comes at a moment of internal disarray: Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis arrived at a Nato meeting in Brussels without the UK's long-delayed defence investment plan, after his predecessor resigned warning it was inadequate.
What is happening and who is involved? The US is conducting a comprehensive review of its forces stationed in Europe, which will run for six months. It follows an earlier decision to scale back American commitments to the Nato Force Model — a set of high-readiness forces the alliance's Supreme Allied Commander can call on at short notice. The US has already begun withdrawing around 5,000 troops from Germany, bringing numbers closer to pre-2022 levels. Hegseth has been explicit that the review will test whether allies are spending enough on defence and providing the access and basing rights the US needs. "Some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colours," he said. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte called the review "completely acceptable" and said Europeans are already "backfilling" resources the US is cutting back on.
“The US review of its military footprint in Europe and what it means for UK defence”
Why does this issue exist? The roots lie in long-standing US frustration that many of its richest allies spend too little on defence. Hegseth singled out Nato members he accused of "free-riding" and said future US contributions to Nato's common budget would be tied to whether allies meet spending targets. The US wants Nato members to reach 5% of GDP on defence — 3.5% on core defence and 1.5% on infrastructure. Several countries, including the UK, have yet to show a credible path to those levels. The Trump administration has made clear it wants Europe to take the lead on its own conventional defence, freeing the US to focus on challenges elsewhere, notably in the Indo-Pacific.
Why it matters for UK readers. The UK has pledged to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. But the Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis arrived at the Nato meeting without a published defence investment plan (DIP). His predecessor John Healey resigned after saying the plan he was shown only set out a 0.08% rise per year from 2026 to 2030, with no date for reaching 3% or a path to 3.5%. The chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, warned the armed forces would have to "dial back" training and operations without more cash. The DIP was originally due in autumn 2025 and remains delayed. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Jarvis has his own thoughts on priorities, but there is no sign of extra money.
Q: What is the Nato Force Model? The Nato Force Model is a set of forces that the alliance's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe can count on at short notice. The US has scaled back its contributions to this high-readiness force, particularly air and naval capabilities such as fighter aircraft and tanker planes.
Q: Why is the US reviewing its forces in Europe? The review is designed to pressure allies to spend more on defence and take greater responsibility for European security. Hegseth said it aims to "ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading" on continental defence, as the US shifts priorities elsewhere.
Q: What does the UK need to do? The UK must present a credible plan to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Nato Secretary-General Rutte has urged all members to show "clear, concrete and credible plans" ahead of a summit in July. The UK's defence investment plan is delayed, and the previous defence secretary resigned over its inadequacy.
What happens next? The US review is due to conclude in six months, around December 2026. Before then, Nato leaders will meet for a summit in Ankara on 7 July, where President Donald Trump is expected to push allies to turn spending pledges into usable military power. The UK government faces ongoing internal discussions about defence spending, with the publication of the defence investment plan still uncertain. The outcome of the US review will determine which allies are deemed to have "failed" or "passed" — and what consequences follow for troop deployments and US financial contributions to Nato.