Iran war deepens rift between the U.S. and Europe: Rubio says NATO's significance to the U.S. must be reassessed after Middle East conflict ends
AFP reported on Wednesday, April 1, that U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said in an interview with Fox News: "I think it's regrettable—almost certainly—we must re-examine this relationship once this conflict ends. We need to reassess what the NATO alliance means for the United States." He also added that the final decision rests with President Trump.
It is alleged that the U.S. is dissatisfied with certain NATO members—including France, Spain, and Italy—for not allowing American flights to overfly their airspace or use military bases within their territories to transport military equipment to Israel. This issue is linked to the Iran war that erupted on February 28.
Previously, Trump had also stated at a business forum in Miami that the U.S. might not assist NATO allies when necessary in the future and reiterated criticism of the alliance, saying: "We spend tens of billions of dollars annually through NATO to protect them—we’ve always supported them—but given their current behavior, I wonder if we might no longer have to do so, right?"
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly made tough remarks, labeling NATO a "paper tiger" and a "coward" on his social media platform, and warning that the U.S. "will remember this."
Rubio further stated: "If we've reached a point where the NATO alliance actually hinders our use of these bases—preventing us from advancing American interests—then NATO becomes a one-way street." He added: "If NATO merely means stationing our troops in Europe to protect Europe… but then refuses us access to their military bases when we need them, why should we remain in NATO? This is a question that must be raised."
Moreover, Rubio emphasized that America’s allies should take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz. The strait has effectively been blocked due to Iranian actions, while European nations rely heavily on it for energy. He also said that, regarding the war against Iran, "we are nearing the end," though he provided no specific timeline.
Since Trump’s second term began, relations between the U.S. and NATO have been undergoing serious turbulence. The U.S. accuses European countries of over-relying on American security guarantees, while Europeans express deep concern about potential U.S. reductions in commitments.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861265239839820/
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