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

<p>US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that US dues to the Nato budget will be contingent on other countries meeting defence spending targets</p><p><strong>Hegseth</strong> makes it clear that the review will not be just a box-ticking exercise.</p><p><em>“<strong>It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colours.</strong> In the end, the review is intended to both improve US force posture and basing and strengthen Nato 3.0.”</em></p><p><em>“It <strong>will be designed to ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading</strong>, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe.”</em></p><p><em>“<strong>Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues, contributions will go down.</strong> Nato will be a two-way street.”</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jun/18/ukraine-russia-moscow-strikes-nato-defence-ministers-hegseth-rutte-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a>