AA / Washington / Rabia Iclal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that Washington could reassess the value of the Atlantic alliance after the war with Iran, citing growing frustration over allies’ reluctance to support the American military campaign.
“Following this conflict, we will have to reexamine this relationship. We will have to reexamine the value of NATO and this alliance for our country,” Rubio said in an interview with FOX News.
“Ultimately, this is a decision that belongs to the president,” he added.
He criticized NATO allies for refusing American requests to use military bases, stating, “We are not asking them to carry out airstrikes. When we need them to allow us to use their military bases, their answer is ‘No.’ So why are we in NATO?”
Rubio, who claimed to have been “one of the staunchest advocates of NATO,” highlighted that the alliance had enabled the United States to project its power globally through their bases in Europe. However, he warned that the alliance could become “a one-way street.”
“Why do we have all these American forces stationed in the region if, when we need them, we will not be allowed to use these bases?” he asked.
These remarks come as several European allies have rejected or limited American requests related to the war against Iran, including denying access to bases and airspace, citing concerns about the legality of the war and the lack of consultation within NATO.
Italy recently turned down an American request to land aircraft on a military base in Sicily, while Spain refused to authorize the use of its bases or airspace for war-related operations.
Other allies, including the UK, France, and Germany, have restricted their role to defensive support for regional partners and have repeatedly called for de-escalation.
* Translated from English by Mariem Njeh
