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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday strongly criticised NATO allies and announced a six-month Pentagon review of American troop deployments in Europe. He said the future US military presence would depend on how quickly European countries take greater responsibility for their own defence.

 

Speaking to NATO defence ministers in Brussels, Hegseth said the review would be comprehensive. He added that its goal was to ensure NATO moves quickly and permanently towards a system where European nations take the lead in defending the continent.

 

Hegseth also criticised several European allies for not allowing US forces to use military bases on their territory for operations against Iran. He described their refusal as disappointing and unacceptable.

 

He said denying American troops access to bases, airspace and other military facilities put US service members at unnecessary risk. According to Hegseth, such support from allies should never have been in doubt.

 

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