Newsletters Events
Logo Logo

The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Search

Hegseth blasts NATO members, announces review of US forces in Europe

AL-MONITOR
Jun 18, 2026
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte talk to the media on the day of a meeting of NATO defence ministers at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte talk to the media on the day of a meeting of NATO defence ministers at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov — Stoyan Nenov

BRUSSELS, June 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday harshly criticised some NATO members over defence spending and their stances on the Iran war as he announced a review of U.S. military forces in Europe.

"It's a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colors," Hegseth told NATO defence ministers gathered for a meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Sabine Siebold and Lili Bayer; Editing by Andrw Gray)

This one's on us.

The story doesn't end here.

Our correspondents are already on the next chapter. Read everything they file, from $2/week.

See Offers