US to reconsider relations with NATO over Iran, Rubio warns echoing Trump threat

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington volition “re-examine” its narration with NATO aft allies refused to enactment the US-Israel warfare successful Iran, echoing remarks from President Donald Trump implicit a imaginable withdrawal from the alliance.

“I deliberation there’s nary doubt, unfortunately, aft this struggle is concluded, we are going to person to re-examine that relationship,” Rubio told Fox News connected Tuesday evening.

“We’re going to person to re-examine the worth of NATO for our country,” helium added.

The remarks people the 2nd specified informing from Rubio successful little than a week, arsenic European leaders proceed to defy US calls to instrumentality portion successful the struggle with Iran even.

G7 overseas ministers said past week they volition assistance successful the Strait of Hormuz erstwhile the blistery signifier of the warfare is done and suggested an UN-led ngo akin to the Black Sea Initiative which managed to get exports of atom during hostilities betwixt Russia and Ukraine.

Rubio, who described himself arsenic a long-time protagonist of NATO, said the confederation had antecedently offered wide advantages, including allowing the US to “project power” done subject bases crossed subordinate states.

However, helium warned that statement could travel into question if allies restrict access. Several European countries person restricted entree to their US bases to motorboat attacks.

Rubio said would instrumentality banal and behaviour an appraisal aft the warfare is over.

“If we’ve reached a constituent wherever the NATO confederation means we can’t usage those bases to support America’s interests, past NATO becomes a one-way street,” helium said.

“If NATO is astir america defending Europe, but they contradict america basing rights erstwhile we request them, that’s not a precise bully arrangement.”

Meanwhile, Trump has issued conflicting statements connected the aboriginal of US membership.

In caller comments, helium said helium was “strongly considering” withdrawing from NATO, describing the confederation arsenic a “paper tiger” implicit its refusal to prosecute successful the Iran war.

However, successful an interrogation with The Telegraph, the US president aboriginal said it was “beyond consideration” that Washington would permission the alliance, which it has been portion of for 76 years.

“I was ne'er swayed by NATO,” Trump said. “I ever knew they were a insubstantial tiger — and Putin knows that too.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the confederation connected Wednesday, calling NATO “the azygous astir effectual subject confederation the satellite has ever seen”.

“It has kept america harmless for galore decades, and we are afloat committed to NATO,” helium told a property conference.

European allies rattled by Iran war

Adding to the transatlantic tensions, respective European countries denied the usage of their airspace for subject activities linked to the conflict.

Spain, 1 of the astir vocal critics of the US-Israel strikes, said it would barroom US craft progressive successful the warfare from its airspace oregon usage its bases for thing different than humanitarian aid. France has besides restricted entree for immoderate subject flights carrying supplies to Israel, prompting a crisp effect from Trump.

Writing connected Truth Social, helium criticised Paris for blocking flights carrying subject equipment, accusing France of being “very unhelpful”.

Elsewhere, Poland declined an informal US petition to redeploy Patriot aerial defence systems to the Gulf.

“Our Patriot batteries are utilized to support Polish airspace and NATO’s eastbound flank. Nothing is changing successful this regard,” Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said successful a societal media post, responding to reports successful Polish media.

The developments travel amid increasing concerns implicit US subject stockpiles, which person reportedly been strained by the strength of the conflict.

Washington has besides called connected European allies to assistance unafraid the Strait of Hormuz, a captious shipping way done which astir a 5th of the world’s crude lipid passes. Iran has efficaciously blocked the passage, contributing to important disruption successful planetary vigor markets that has sent lipid and state prices soaring.

Around 30 countries, including European states arsenic good arsenic Japan, are discussing the enactment of a “coalition of the willing” to enactment efforts to reopen the strait, though lone erstwhile hostilities person ended.

Rubio has besides suggested that European reluctance to prosecute successful Iran could person broader implications for transatlantic cooperation.

Referring to comments by respective European leaders that the struggle was “not Europe’s war”, helium noted that the US had taken a starring relation successful supporting Ukraine against Russia.

“Ukraine is not America’s war, and yet we’ve contributed much to that combat than immoderate different country,” Rubio said connected the sidelines of the G7 overseas ministers’ gathering successful France past week.

“So, this is thing the president volition person to instrumentality into relationship going forward.”

Euronews has contacted NATO for comment. No effect had been received astatine the clip of publication.