Defense Secretary Hegseth reiterates criticism of NATO allies, orders six-month review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth again criticized NATO allies for what he described as insufficient defense effort, characterizing their capabilities as a “paper tiger,” according to remarks reported by NPR on June 18, 2026.

In the same comments, Hegseth said the Defense Department is beginning a six-month review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe. NPR reported that the review is intended to assess how American forces are positioned and used as part of the alliance’s deterrence posture.

Hegseth’s remarks also pressed the case that Europe should take the lead on its own defense. NPR reported that he tied the alliance’s effectiveness to whether European governments meet responsibilities required to sustain deterrence and reduce reliance on U.S. forces.

The comments come amid ongoing public dispute over how the alliance shares burdens and how partners contribute to collective security. Hegseth’s latest critique, reported by NPR, adds to a pattern of public-facing criticism of allied defense spending and readiness expectations.

While Hegseth’s statements were framed in terms of alliance readiness and deterrence, the immediate policy step described by NPR is the initiation of a time-limited internal review. The review period is set at six months, which means any resulting changes would be expected to be developed through the department during that window rather than immediately.

NPR reported that Hegseth used his remarks to highlight a view that European governments should be prepared to do more on defense, rather than depending on U.S. deployments as the primary backstop. The Defense Department’s role, as described in the report, is to examine deployment arrangements in Europe as part of that broader push for partners to take greater responsibility.

At this point, the reporting details the announcement and framing of the review and the demand for greater European leadership, but it does not specify which bases, units, or categories of deployments would be reviewed first, nor whether any changes are expected by the end of the six-month period.