&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "‘When we need their military bases, their answer is no’: Rubio questions US-NATO alliance amid Iran war")
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signalled that Washington may need to “reassess” its relationship with NATO once the ongoing Iran conflict comes to an end, in remarks that underscore growing transatlantic tensions.
Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday (March 31), Rubio said there was “no doubt” that the US would have to take a “fresh look” at the alliance after the war. “We’ll need to reconsider what NATO brings to our country within that alliance,” he said, adding that any final decision would rest with President Donald Trump.
Rubio, who described himself as a long-time supporter of NATO during his tenure in the US Senate, suggested that the alliance risks becoming imbalanced if it limits Washington’s operational flexibility. “If now we have reached a point where the NATO alliance means that we can’t use those bases… then NATO is a one-way street,” he said.
The top US diplomat clarified that Washington was not asking its allies to participate directly in airstrikes against Iran. But he expressed frustration over restrictions placed on the use of allied military infrastructure. “When we need them to allow us to use their military bases, their answer is ‘No?’ Then why are we in NATO? You have to ask that question,” Rubio added.
US vs Europe allies amid Iran war
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His comments come amid mounting strain between Washington and its European allies during the Iran war. The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised NATO members for what it sees as insufficient support for efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime chokepoint through which roughly 1/5th of the world’s crude oil supply passes.
The tensions have played out in concrete terms. Spain has barred US aircraft involved in the conflict from using its airspace, while Italy has declined requests to host American bombers at its bases en route to West Asia. The UK also initially refused access to a Royal Air Force base before later reversing its position, highlighting divisions within the alliance.
The restrictions have complicated US military logistics at a time when Washington is seeking to maintain pressure on Iran following the February 28 US-Israeli strikes that triggered the wider regional conflict.
