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Hegseth Announces Review of U.S. Troops in Europe and Scolds NATO Allies Over 'Shameful' Response to Iran War

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Hegseth Announces Review of U.S. Troops in Europe and Scolds NATO Allies Over 'Shameful' Response to Iran War

by Callum Sutherland

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced a review of U.S. military troops in Europe during a critical address to NATO defense ministers.

Hegseth also raised issue with the financial contributions of allied nations and threatened to withhold dues if allies don't meet their defense spending commitments.

NATO allies who 'go on about the rules-based international order and middle powers banding together, still seem to think the era of free-riding is here,' he claimed. 'For too long, NATO has been a paper tiger, and a one-way street. No more.'

Following Hegseth's address, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged there is a 'broad agreement among allies on the need to step up' and said the U.S.' position, on this front, was 'completely acceptable.'