US Defence Secretary Warns 'Era of Free-Riding Is Over' as Nato Allies Face Review and Ukraine Strikes Moscow Oil Refinery

Brussels, Belgium / Moscow, Russia – US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the "era of free-riding is over" for Nato allies, announcing a six-month review of US forces in Europe and threatening to reduce American contributions to the alliance's budget if member states fail to meet defence spending targets.

Speaking at a Nato ministerial meeting in Brussels, Hegseth made clear that the United States would no longer tolerate what it sees as inadequate defence spending by European allies, particularly in light of the Iran conflict and ongoing threats from Russia.

"Some of Nato's largest economies, some of our richest countries, allies that are happiest to go on about the rules-based international order and middle powers banding together still think the era of free riding is here," Hegseth said. "This is not what any reasonable person would expect, and it's not going to cut it any more."

'Too Many Allies Failed the Test'

Hegseth made it very clear how the US is annoyed about the perceived lack of support on Iran operations. The US had requested access to European bases and overflight rights for missions against Iranian targets in the Middle East.

"The United States has defended Europe for generations, and the President said all he said was that our jets would need to take off from bases in Europe or our ships from ports to strike targets in the Middle East, Iranian targets that threaten European interests even more directly than they threaten us," Hegseth said.

"But too many of our allies said no, or tried to drown us in arcane legal debates, or criticised us publicly for doing what they aren't prepared or able to do themselves. It was shameful.

"These allies, they put America's sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access facing an overflight that never should have been in question at all."

He added: "We gave our allies a test to support America when we asked for their help and too many failed it."

US Posture Review: 'Some Countries Will Fail'

Hegseth announced that the Department of Defence will conduct a six-month review of US forces in Europe, which will look at the actual benefits of having US military forces on the continent.

"It will be designed to ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe," he said.

He made it clear that the review will not be just a box-ticking exercise. "It's a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colours. In the end, the review is intended to both improve US force posture and basing and strengthen Nato 3.0."

Hegseth also confirmed that US dues to the Nato budget will be contingent on other countries meeting their defence spending targets. "Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues, contributions will go down. Nato will be a two-way street."

"America cannot care for or pay more for Europe's defence than our allies do."

Hegseth Urges UK to 'Step Up and Do Even More'

Hegseth also offered his view on the relationship with the UK after meeting Britain's new Defence Minister Dan Jarvis, whose predecessor John Healey resigned in protest against low government spending on defence.

Hegseth said it was "a good meeting," stressing that "the US-British defence alliance is an important one." He praised Jarvis for having first-hand experience of serving in a combat zone.

But he said "the message was the same: hey, we need you guys to step up and do even more, spend even more."

He added: "If we need access and basing, whether it's in the UK or say at Diego Garcia, we can't live in a world where other countries are standing at the end of a runway with a clipboard trying to decide what flies and what doesn't. It's not gonna work for us."

Ukrainian Drones Strike Moscow Oil Refinery

Scores of drones targeted Moscow overnight, hitting the Russian capital's oil refinery for the second time this week, Reuters reported. The strikes come as Ukraine continues its campaign of attacks on Russian energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that "if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn" as he ramped up his rhetoric after the overnight strikes.

"We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it," Zelenskyy said in a voice message sent to reporters on a WhatsApp group. "But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn."

Zelenskyy also called on Europe and the United States to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions on Russia's defence and energy sectors and the broader economy to force President Vladimir Putin into ending the war.

Kremlin: Trump Was 'Pumped With' Harmful Ideas at G7

The Kremlin offered its own take on yesterday's G7 summit, saying that US President Donald Trump was "pumped with" harmful ideas by the EU.

The US had no contacts with Moscow after the meeting, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov was quoted by Interfax and Reuters as saying.

Ushakov also disputed the EU's assumption that the battlefield situation was changing in Ukraine's favour, maintaining Moscow's position that the war is proceeding according to Russia's plans.

Nato Agrees to Modernise Nuclear Capabilities

Separately, Nato has agreed to modernise its nuclear capabilities and strengthen its nuclear planning capacity, the alliance's senior body for nuclear deterrence said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

All Nato allies except France are members of the Nuclear Planning Group, which serves as a forum for consultation and decision-making on nuclear deterrence.

Defence ministers taking part in the meeting "recalled that the strategic nuclear forces of the Alliance remain the supreme guarantee of Allied security and underpin Nato's extended deterrence architecture," the statement said.

Snap Analysis: Hegseth's Warning to Europe

None of this is entirely new – Hegseth largely repeats the US's main frustrations and grievances with the alliance, repeatedly expressed by Trump – but the tone of the delivery is still very striking.

Hegseth has laid into Nato allies for not helping enough with bases and overflights during its early Iran operations. While he did not name any countries, it's likely targeted at the likes of Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Coming just weeks before the Nato summit in Ankara, it is clearly intended to serve as a warning to several of the allies that still don't spend enough and don't seem to act with the urgency the US is expecting.

The proposed posture review – and explicit threat that some of them will fail it – and the suggestion the US could reduce its contributions if others do not pay enough, will make some think twice about their plans in the next few weeks.

As Hegseth ended his remarks, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said "there's much to discuss and decide today."