WASHINGTON—The US Department of Defense is conducting a six-month review of its military posture and base presence in Europe, a process that could lead to a significant reduction or redeployment of US troops stationed on the continent.
The review, dubbed “NATO 3.0,” was announced in June by
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who explained that the goal is to move
toward an alliance in which European countries assume greater responsibility
for the continent's conventional defense.
The Department of Defense indicated that the review will
analyze the disposition of US forces and their bases in Europe, taking into
account input from US and European military commands, as well as consultations
with Congress and allied countries.
The process could result in the largest reduction of US
forces in Europe since the 1990s, although no final decision has yet been made
on the number of troops that would be withdrawn or redeployed. One of the
possibilities mentioned in recent reports involves reductions of tens of
thousands of troops.
The Trump administration maintains that NATO's European
members must assume a greater share of the costs and responsibilities of their
own defense. Hegseth has indicated that Washington seeks an alliance in which
Europe plays a central role in the continent's defense, while the United States
focuses some of its capabilities on its global strategic priorities.
In Spain, the debate has also generated positions favorable
to European allies increasing their contributions. In an interview broadcast
this Sunday, Spanish Senator Fernando Gutiérrez, a retired general and
representative of the parliamentary delegation related to NATO, acknowledged
that Trump's demands have been strong, but maintained that member countries
"have to do more" and share responsibilities within the alliance.
The U.S. review remains open, and its conclusions will
determine what changes will be made to Washington's military deployment in
Europe. The Department of Defense plans to present its recommendations to
President Trump in November.