BRUSSELS (AP) - Shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth scolded his NATO partners and declared a Pentagon evaluation of their efforts, many European leaders were reviewing a list of advancements on security goals.

Essentially, Hegseth was reminding the Europeans of facts they are aware of.

The points covered their increase in defense expenditures, funding for industry to enhance military gear production, applying insights from the Ukraine conflict, and requirements for acquiring or creating drones, air defense, and long-range arms.

At a gathering concluding Friday, they considered optimal ways to apply shared European Union resources and reduce bureaucracy for quicker acquisitions, evaluated progress on military mobility to accelerate troop and equipment movements, and discussed upgrades to ports and airports.

"Europe's defense readiness must be decisively ramped up by 2030," they confirmed again. The agenda was familiar, having been shaped since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Intelligence services have cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might launch strikes elsewhere in Europe before the decade ends, particularly if he prevails in Ukraine. They already blame Russia for sabotage and disinformation campaigns throughout Europe.

Roughly two-thirds of EU nations also belong to NATO, and the added uncertainty from the Trump administration has pushed them to advance independently. Hegseth's Pentagon evaluation arrived as yet another unexpected development.

Pentagon leader criticizes American partners

Hegseth attends few NATO sessions, and he departed Thursday's defense ministers meeting ahead of schedule. Still, his initial major address to the allies in February 2025 and his remarks this week stood out.

On Thursday he labeled NATO a "paper-tiger," called allies "shameful," and stated that "too many failed" a challenge from President Donald Trump regarding use of their bases in Europe for strikes on Iran.

He also criticized their emphasis on "gender equity and climate change" and attacked their approaches to migration.

Hegseth then set a six-month deadline for improvement ahead of a Pentagon performance check that links U.S. troop presence in Europe and American support for NATO to his judgment of their contributions.

"It's protection racket framing that undermines NATO solidarity, trust in the U.S. commitment to NATO, and, ultimately, U.S. security interests," said Rachel Ellehuus, Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank.

Details of the assessment remain unclear

The scope of the review is uncertain.

"It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe," Hegseth said. "Some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colors."

It could run "up to six months, could be less," he noted, and include U.S. military leaders, congressional members, and the allies.

He indicated that U.S. contributions to a shared NATO budget supporting headquarters and facilities would hinge on their performance. "Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down," Hegseth said.

Speaking to reporters at Brussels airport before departing, he added it would cover "where is the right place for basing. Where can we make sure we have access and overflight when we need it, so that America is properly postured on the continent."

NATO took no direct part in the Iran conflict but did protect alliance areas from potential threats.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte offered no specifics on the review's details.

"There's still no clarity on exactly what the outcome will be, because that will depend on the review. So, we'll see what happens," Rutte said, noting that "Wherever we can be helpful, we will be helpful." Rutte may gain more insight during his trip to Washington next week.

Figures indicate U.S. partners are performing solidly

According to Rutte, European allies and Canada are performing well, though further efforts are possible.

"What we are seeing is staggering amounts of money coming in," he told reporters. "Europe and Canada are spending in 2025 more than $90 billion extra compared to 2024, which is almost a 20% increase in defense spending."

The additional funds must translate into greater supplies of military hardware, weapons, and ammunition.

At their prior summit, the allies committed to aligning their military budgets with U.S. levels relative to gross domestic product. Trump exited satisfied, describing his NATO counterparts as a "nice group of people." Yet the review casts doubt on prospects for their upcoming summit in Turkey on July 7-8.

Nevertheless, senior European officers now occupy more NATO command positions, and U.S. allies have assumed leadership in channeling arms and funds to Ukraine as the Trump administration has reduced involvement.

Some Europeans and Canada are also investing billions in U.S.-made air defense systems donated to Ukraine, viewing its conflict with Russia as a direct risk to Europe.

Indeed, it is difficult to identify additional steps that could be taken more rapidly, beyond perhaps granting unrestricted airspace and base access for U.S. operations in other regions.

Ellehuus, a former senior U.S. advisor at NATO, noted that force positioning "should be driven by detailed threat assessments, operational requirements, and military planning - not used as a form of reward, punishment or revenge."

"Such framing undermines allies while they're actively trying to solve the problem and telegraphs to adversaries that U.S. security commitments have a price tag," she said.

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