The review of troops stationed in Europe was initiated after tensions rose over some NATO countries refusing US troops access to military bases for use in the war in Iran.
The US will have to “re-evaluate” its relations with NATO allies that deny American troops access to military bases or airspace in future operations, US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, has told Euronews.
Speaking exclusively at the Euronews Defence and Space Summit, Whitaker said Washington was still conducting a review of the deployment and basing of US forces across NATO territory following disagreements with several European allies during the US-Israel conflict with Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury”.
“We’re looking at the issues about access, basing, and overflight, some of which were a little clunky during Epic Fury,” Whitaker said.
He said the US was continuing talks with countries that restricted access during the conflict to ensure “it doesn’t happen again”.
“We’re having those conversations with just a few countries that we had issues with to make sure we understand the next time,” said Whitaker.
“That it doesn’t happen again, or if it does, maybe, you know, we need to re-evaluate,” he said when pressed.
The review is examining where US forces are stationed and the access Washington has to allied airspace and military infrastructure, he said.
“It’s a force posture and basing review,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker said the process was being guided by the Trump administration’s “America First” approach.
“America First means that we look at it from what’s in the interest of the United States of America and its people and its taxpayers,” he said.
Some leaks of the review noted that as many as 40,000 troops could be withdrawn from NATO territory, but Whitaker brushed aside these reports as incorrect.
“The plan hasn’t even been finalised by the folks at the Secretary of War’s policy shop. And so I think any kind of leaks about that are folks that are just trying to confuse.”
Disagreements over Iran operation
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the force posture review at a meeting of NATO defence ministers at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels in June, after several European governments restricted or denied US access to their airspace and military bases for operations linked to Iran.
Hegseth criticised countries that declined to participate in the operation, describing their actions as “shameful” and saying their decisions put US troops at risk.
Spain, Italy, France and the UK initially expressed reservations about providing access, amid concerns about being drawn into an operation without prior consultation.
US President Donald Trump has expressed his disdain for their decisions and threatened to reconsider US security support to countries that did not support Washington’s position.
Spain took the strongest position against involvement, denying US access to its airspace and military bases for operations linked to Iran.
Italy imposed restrictions on access, while France said it would allow aircraft and operational support but would not permit fighter jets to refuel from its bases.
The UK initially agreed to allow the US military to use Royal Air Force sites for “defensive purposes” before later expanding access to support strikes on Iranian targets.
NATO review
A leaked questionnaire circulated among NATO members during the summer asked governments to provide details of their response to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, including whether they had granted access to their airspace and military bases during the initial phase of the operation.
The questionnaire also asked members about their position on a US-backed shift in NATO’s defence posture, referred to as “NATO 3.0”, which places central responsibility on European allies for the conventional defence of Europe.
Source: www.euronews.com
