On Tuesday, March 31, the US Secretary of State attacked the links between the United States and NATO, calling for a “reexamination” due to a perceived lack of support from Europeans in the conflict with Iran.
American Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the transatlantic relationship with NATO like never before, stating on April 1 that the United States should “reexamine” their relations with the military alliance once the war against Iran is over.
“I think it is unfortunately clear that once this conflict is over, we will need to reconsider this relationship. We will need to reconsider the role that NATO plays for our country within this alliance,” said Marco Rubio on Fox News, adding that it would be up to President Donald Trump to decide on this issue.
The United States criticized NATO countries like France, Spain, and Italy for not allowing the overflight of their territories or using American bases to transport military equipment to Israel in the context of the war against Iran, which began on February 28.
Donald Trump himself had stated last Friday that the United States may not come to NATO’s aid when needed, reiterating his criticisms of the Atlantic Alliance at a business forum in Miami.
In recent weeks, the American president has been making bellicose statements against NATO, calling it a “PAPER TIGER” and “COWARDS” on his Truth Social network. The United States “will remember,” he had already stated at a Cabinet meeting.
“If we have reached the point where the NATO alliance prevents us from using these bases, where we actually can’t use them to defend US interests, then NATO is a one-way street,” said Marco Rubio.
He also emphasized that it is up to US allies to secure the Strait of Hormuz, effectively blocked by Iran, on which they depend for their oil. Referring to the war in Iran, he indicated that “we are close to the finish line” without providing a timetable.
Since the return of the American president to power, the relations between the United States, a founding and major member, and NATO have been experiencing strong turbulence, with the former accusing Europeans of taking their security for granted, and the latter concerned about a possible American disengagement.
