Rubio questions NATO's value after allies deny Iran war support
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden, criticized allies for refusing to support the U.S.-led "Operation Epic Fury" in Iran, including denying base access. President Trump, who called NATO a "paper tiger," is scaling back the U.S. military footprint in Europe but announced 5,000 additional troops to Poland. Rubio said Trump's disappointment will be addressed at the next NATO summit in Turkey in July, which he called among the most consequential in NATO's history.
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Rubio ratchets up pressure on NATO at key summit
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cast new doubt on NATO's relevance to the United States after key allies refused to support Washington's 'Operation Epic Fury' during the war in Iran. Speaking after a meeting with foreign ministers in Sweden, Rubio argued that denying the US access to bases on allied soil undermines NATO's value. President Donald Trump has long criticized NATO, calling it a 'paper tiger.' The Trump administration is scaling back its military footprint in Europe, though it announced a deployment of 5,000 additional troops to Poland. Rubio stated that Trump's disappointment with the alliance's response to the Iran conflict will be addressed at the next NATO leaders' summit in Turkey in July, which he described as among the most consequential in NATO's history.
Defense NewsRubio ratchets up pressure on NATO at key summit
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cast new doubt on NATO's relevance to the United States after key allies refused to allow U.S. forces to use installations on their soil during 'Operation Epic Fury,' the U.S.-led war in Iran that began on February 28. Speaking after a meeting with foreign ministers in Sweden, Rubio argued that denying logistical options undermines the alliance's value. President Donald Trump has previously called NATO a 'paper tiger' and believes allies should have offered more assistance, especially in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration is scaling back its military footprint across Europe, though it announced a deployment of 5,000 additional troops to Poland while withdrawing the same number from Germany. Rubio insisted the adjustments are not punitive but driven by global commitments. He suggested the next NATO leaders' summit in Turkey in July will be among the most consequential in the alliance's history, as Trump's disappointment with allies' response to the Iran war must be addressed.
Military TimesRubio ratchets up pressure on NATO at key summit
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cast new doubt on NATO's relevance to the United States after key allies refused to back Washington's 'Operation Epic Fury' during the war in Iran. Speaking after a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Sweden, Rubio argued that the alliance's value is undermined when allies deny the US use of bases on their soil during a conflict. President Donald Trump has echoed this sentiment, calling NATO a 'paper tiger.' The Trump administration is scaling back its military footprint in Europe, though it announced a deployment of 5,000 additional troops to Poland. Rubio stated that Trump's disappointment with the alliance's response to the Iran war will be addressed at the next NATO leaders' summit in Turkey in July, which he suggested will be among the most consequential in NATO's history.
Defense NewsRubio escalates pressure on NATO after allies deny base access during Iran conflict
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has intensified criticism of NATO, questioning its value to the United States after key allies refused to allow U.S. forces to use installations on their soil during 'Operation Epic Fury,' the war in Iran that began on February 28. Speaking after a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden, Rubio argued that denied logistical access undermines the alliance's raison d'etre. President Trump has echoed this sentiment, calling NATO a 'paper tiger.' The Trump administration is reducing its military footprint in Europe, though it announced a deployment of 5,000 additional troops to Poland. Rubio stated that Trump's disappointment with the alliance's response will be a central issue at the next NATO leaders' summit in Turkey in July, which he suggested will be among the most consequential in NATO's history.
Military TimesRubio Ratchets Up Pressure on NATO at Key Summit
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cast new doubt on NATO's relevance to the United States after key allies refused to support Washington's 'Operation Epic Fury' in Iran. Speaking after a meeting in Sweden, Rubio argued that the alliance's value is undermined when allies deny the US use of bases on their soil during a conflict. The US-NATO relationship has been strained since the war in Iran began on Feb. 28, with President Trump believing allies should have offered more assistance, particularly in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Allies counter that the war was started without their consultation. The Trump administration has moved to scale back its military footprint in Europe, though contradictory signals emerged with Trump's announcement of 5,000 additional troops to Poland. Rubio stated that Trump's disappointment with the alliance's response will be addressed at the next NATO leaders' summit in Turkey in July, which he suggested will be among the most consequential in NATO's history.
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