By Ginika Igboke
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 30 that Washington may “reexamine” its relationship with NATO following what he described as disappointing responses from some alliance members to the ongoing war with Iran.
Rubio indicated that President Donald Trump and his administration could reconsider the United States’ role in the alliance after the conflict concludes.
“One of the reasons NATO is beneficial to the United States is that it provides basing rights for contingencies,” Rubio said. “It allows us to station troops, aircraft, and weapons in parts of the world where we wouldn’t normally have bases, including much of Europe.”
He criticized certain allies for limiting U.S. military access during the conflict, citing Spain as a key example. According to Rubio, Madrid denied U.S. forces access to its airspace and military bases despite being a NATO member.
“At a time of need, when the United States has identified a grave risk to our national security and interests, we needed to conduct operations,” Rubio said. “Yet countries like Spain are denying access to their airspace and bases—and even boasting about it. Others have taken similar steps.”
Rubio questioned the value of the alliance under such circumstances, noting that his long-standing support for NATO was based on the expectation that U.S. basing rights in Europe would provide operational flexibility worldwide.
“If NATO is only about the United States defending Europe when it’s attacked, but allies deny us basing access when we need it, that’s not a sustainable arrangement,” he said. “It becomes difficult to justify continued engagement as beneficial to the United States.”
Spain Blocks U.S. Military Access
Rubio’s remarks followed Spain’s decision to restrict U.S. military operations related to the Iran conflict. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed on March 25 that the government would not authorize the use of key bases or airspace.
“We are not going to permit the use of Morón and Rota bases for any actions related to the war in Iran,” Robles said in Madrid. “This includes Spanish airspace.”
The move effectively bars U.S. fighter jets and refueling aircraft from operating through Spain and denies access to American planes flying from third countries.
Spain hosts two major joint U.S.–Spanish military installations. Naval Station Rota serves as a central hub for the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet, while Morón Air Base, located in Andalusia, provides strategic access to the Mediterranean and Middle East and supports aerial refueling operations.
Although both bases remain under Spanish sovereignty, they allow a permanent U.S. military presence and are considered critical to U.S. defense operations in southern Europe.
European Leaders Show Reluctance
Other European leaders have also distanced themselves from the conflict.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the war as an economic “catastrophe” during a visit to Australia on March 26 and emphasized that Germany does not intend to become further involved.
“Nobody asked us before. It’s not our war, and we do not want to be drawn into it,” he said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed a similar stance, stating in a March 30 post on X that the United Kingdom would not be pulled into the Middle East conflict.
Trump Criticizes Allies
On March 31, President Donald Trump sharply criticized both the United Kingdom and France in posts on Truth Social.
He urged the UK and other nations to increase purchases of U.S. jet fuel and called on them to take more direct action in the Strait of Hormuz.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourselves,” Trump wrote. “The United States won’t always be there, just as you weren’t there for us. Iran has been largely neutralized—the difficult part is done. Secure your own oil.”
Trump also criticized France for restricting overflight access to aircraft heading to Israel.
“France has been very unhelpful regarding Iran’s leadership,” he wrote, adding that the United States would remember the country’s stance.
Original article
Comments