U.S. will have to reconsider Its relationship with NATO

Rubio criticized NATO members for refusing to grant access to military bases, Al Jazeera reports.

He emphasized that the alliance cannot be a “one-way street,” where the U.S. guarantees Europe's defense but receives no assistance in return.

“If NATO is just about us defending Europe in the event of an attack, but they deny us the right to deploy troops when we need to, then that’s not a very good deal. In such a situation, it’s hard to remain a member of the alliance. I hope we can fix this,” he said.

Spain became the main target of U.S. criticism. Madrid closed its airspace to American aircraft involved in operations in Iran and banned the use of U.S. bases on its territory. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was one of Trump’s most vocal European critics, accusing the American president of waging an illegal war.

NATO allies also rejected Trump’s request to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran blocked in early March in response to U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, leading to a sharp rise in global oil and gas prices.

Rubio emphasized that once the operation is complete, the strait will be opened in any case—either through Iran’s agreement to comply with international law or through the actions of an international coalition involving the United States.

Photo: NATO.