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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor

Pete Hegseth accuses Nato countries of ‘free riding’ in combative address

Pete Hegseth NATO United States Dan Jarvis Donald Trump Europe John Healey United Kingdom
Pete Hegseth speaks at Nato headquarters in Brussels.
Pete Hegseth: ‘It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colours.’ Photograph: Virginia Mayo/AP

Pete Hegseth has announced a review of the US military presence across Europe, in a combative address to Nato allies where he threatened to cut force numbers in countries spending the least on defence.

The US defence secretary, speaking at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, accused some countries of “free riding” and others of being shameful for not allowing their airbases to be used by US jets bombing Iran in the spring.

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