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

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that US dues to the Nato budget will be contingent on other countries meeting defence spending targets

Hegseth makes it clear that the review will not be just a box-ticking exercise.

It's a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colours. In the end, the review is intended to both improve US force posture and basing and strengthen Nato 3.0."

It will be designed to ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe."

Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues, contributions will go down. Nato will be a two-way street."