U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused NATO allies of betraying the United States, saying they vanished when Washington needed them. He announced that the Pentagon will begin a process lasting up to six months to reassess its military presence in Europe, according to a report by Dr. Guy Bechor on Gplanet.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a blistering attack on NATO allies on Thursday, accusing them of betraying the United States. “When we needed you, you vanished,” he said, according to a report by Dr. Guy Bechor on Gplanet. Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will begin a process lasting up to six months to reassess the U.S. military presence in Europe, effectively signaling a major drawdown.
The remarks escalate a trend that The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday: Hegseth had told NATO the Pentagon would review its force posture in Europe within six months, pressing allies to boost their own defenses amid anger over their responses to the Iran conflict. Thursday’s report adds a harsher personal accusation of betrayal and a more explicit threat that the U.S. may pull out entirely.
The shift in tone comes as the Trump administration has been reducing U.S. assets in Europe, including plans reported by the New York Times to cut fighter jets assigned to NATO from roughly 150 to 100, along with cuts to maritime patrol and refueling aircraft. NATO chief Mark Rutte acknowledged earlier Thursday that a reduction of U.S. forces has already taken effect. Hegseth’s latest comments suggest the administration may now be laying the groundwork for a deeper withdrawal.
The account remains a single-source report from Dr. Guy Bechor, a noted analyst, and has not been independently corroborated by official Pentagon readouts or other outlets as of this writing.
2 developments
- DevelopingNATO chief says US troop reduction from Europe takes effect
- StrongReport: Pentagon to cut US fighter jets assigned to NATO in Europe from 150 to 100
- DevelopingHegseth says US will keep large forces in region, reinstate Iran siege if commitments unmet
- StrongDefense Minister Katz speaks with US counterpart Hegseth
Source and signal
- Internal intake