Rubio to Meet NATO Allies Amid Trump’s Iran Rift

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet NATO allies on Friday for the first time since President Donald Trump raised doubts about the alliance’s future over divisions on the Iran war and Washington announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Europe.

Before leaving for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden, Rubio said Trump was “very disappointed” in alliance members that had not allowed the US to use bases on their territory for the war, singling out Spain in particular.

“You have countries like Spain denying us the use of these bases – well then why are you in NATO? That’s a very fair question”, Rubio told reporters in Miami. “In fairness, other countries in NATO have been very helpful. But we need to discuss that.”

Trump has strongly criticized NATO members for not doing more to help the US-Israeli military campaign. He has said he is considering withdrawing from the alliance and questioned whether Washington is bound to honor its mutual defense commitment.

European ministers are expected to try to calm tensions at the gathering in Helsingborg, Sweden, by stressing that they are ready to help protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when conditions permit and to take more responsibility for European security.

The United States also said a planned deployment of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany will no longer go ahead.

Washington plans to tell NATO allies that it will reduce the pool of military capabilities the US makes available to the alliance in a crisis, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

(reuters, max)