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Going forward, the United States’ annual share of NATO costs would depend on whether other alliance members met their defense spending targets, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday at a NATO meeting in Brussels. The United States currently contributes nearly 15%, or roughly $885 million, of the total cost for NATO’s civil and military budgets as well as its security investment program. Hegseth didn’t say how much the United States might reduce its share. The news came weeks after the Defense Department said it would reduce the number of troops earmarked to assist European allies in case of a major conflict.
The Defense Department would also launch a wide-ranging review of its force posture and basing in Europe, Hegseth said. He said U.S. forces needed clearly delineated access, basing, and overflight permissions. He slammed some allies for refusing to allow the United States to use their bases to launch attacks on Iran, calling their decisions shameful. While Hegseth didn’t name specific allies, Spain, Italy, and France were among those who reportedly rebuffed such U.S. requests. The review would last up to six months, though it could take less time, Hegseth said. U.S. military leaders, European command, allied nations, and Congress would all have input in the review and any changes, he said.
While Hegseth praised some allies for increasing their defense spending commitments and raising their share of support for Ukraine, he said many, including some of the richest, still wanted to freeload. He also accused some NATO members of focusing on gender equity, climate change, open borders, and welfare states over their own defense.
How did NATO members respond? Secretary General-Mark Rutte said the upcoming NATO Summit in early July would focus on how countries were implementing their goals and commitments. The United States was still committed to NATO, but continued to have expectations for allies’ share in defense, he said. NATO members discussed their defense spending Thursday during the Brussels meeting, according to the organization.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on Thursday said the reorganization of NATO was rational and necessary. The contributions by NATO members needed to be more balanced, he said. Members should honor their commitments or leave the alliance, he said. French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin also said France was ready for more burden-sharing in coordination with America.
Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on a new defense treaty between Germany and Poland.