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Pentagon's NATO review preparing troop options for Hegseth by November 6: Reuters
The review will present options for reducing or reshaping force levels as NATO allies face pressure to take more responsibility for Europe’s defense.
On Thursday, senior European diplomats will meet U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby to seek reassurance amid uncertainty over the ongoing review of American troop deployments in Europe.
Washington announced this six-month review in June after President Donald Trump vented anger at Europeans for failing to assist in the Iran war, pushing the continent to take primary responsibility for its own defense.
Documents circulated by Washington over the summer included a 'terms of reference' and questionnaire aiming to advance 'NATO 3.0,' an alliance rededicated to clarity, rigor, and readiness.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said his country "shares the view that Europe needs to do more," even as other officials worry the review represents a "transactional approach" rather than genuine consultation.
Roughly 80,000 U.S. troops currently remain in Europe, though uncertainty persists about whether the review will trigger further withdrawals or if Washington has already finalized its strategic decisions.
NATO allies fear that the troop review will lead to large-scale cuts of the approximately 80,000 U.S. troops deployed and penalize countries that did not support the war on Iran Read