Secretary of State Marco Rubio blocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s proposal to reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe, exposing divisions within President Donald Trump’s administration over the future of America’s military presence on the continent.
The dispute emerged as Hegseth prepared to brief NATO leaders in Brussels last month on plans for a new round of U.S. force reductions across Europe.
According to the report, Hegseth’s proposal was circulated among senior administration officials, including Rubio, before being rejected.
Rather than announcing troop reductions, Hegseth instead informed NATO officials that the Pentagon would conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. military capabilities in Europe, a process expected to take up to six months.
The disagreement highlights broader debates within the Trump administration over how quickly the U.S. should reduce its military footprint in Europe while continuing to encourage NATO allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense.
President Trump has long argued that European nations should bear a larger share of defense spending instead of relying heavily on the United States.
Hegseth has echoed that position, repeatedly urging NATO members to take what he has described as the “primary responsibility” for defending the continent.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Hegseth had previously informed NATO officials that, in the event of a conflict, the United States planned to withdraw submarines, naval warships and drone support from allied operations.
The report said Rubio’s intervention prevented those plans from moving forward.
The episode also underscored Rubio’s influence within the administration, with the secretary of state reportedly able to halt a major Pentagon proposal before it was presented to U.S. allies.
Some Republican lawmakers have expressed concern that a rapid reduction in American forces could weaken NATO’s deterrence posture and create opportunities for Russia.
Those concerns have been reflected in pending defense legislation that would prohibit the Pentagon from reducing U.S. troop levels in Europe below 76,000 unless Hegseth first completes a military risk assessment and certifies that the reductions would not jeopardize U.S. national security.
The administration has also reportedly clashed over previous military decisions involving Europe.
According to the report, Hegseth canceled a routine armored brigade rotation to Poland in May, prompting Trump to question why the Pentagon was treating a key ally unfavorably.
The president later announced plans to deploy an additional 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland.
Responding to the report, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell defended Hegseth’s actions.
“Hegseth ensured his message was aligned with the president’s objectives and agenda, and he did not want to impede upon the president’s decision space,” Parnell said.
The debate comes as Trump prepares to meet with NATO leaders at next week’s alliance summit in Turkey, where defense spending and the future of the U.S. military presence in Europe are expected to dominate discussions, according to the Daily Mail.
The U.S. currently accounts for roughly 62% of NATO’s total defense spending, with an annual military budget approaching $980 billion.
The administration has consistently pressed European allies to increase their defense investments while reevaluating America’s long-term military commitments overseas.
