US Secretary of State Rubio Says NATO Relationship May Be Reassessed After Iran War

Mar 31, 2026

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington may reassess its NATO relationship after the Iran war, criticizing the alliance as one-sided after European allies denied military support during the conflict that began February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Tehran. Spain barred U.S. aircraft from its airspace and bases, Poland refused to relocate Patriot systems to the Middle East, and Italy denied bombers access to its Sigonella base in Sicily. President Trump told The Telegraph he is strongly considering pulling the U.S. out of NATO and warned European allies they must secure the Strait of Hormuz themselves, telling them to 'go get their own oil' as Iran's blockade pushes fuel prices higher. France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., Japan and Canada backed a joint statement in March supporting safe passage through the Strait only once fighting stops.

Rubio's Warning on NATO Relationship Reassessment

▪Marco Rubio made his comments about NATO in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Tuesday night.
▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington may need to reconsider its relationship with NATO once the war against Iran is over.
▪Marco Rubio stated that if NATO is only about the U.S. defending Europe when attacked but European countries deny the U.S. basing rights when needed, that is not a very good arrangement.

European Resistance to US Military Operations Against Iran

▪In March, France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., Japan and Canada backed a joint statement supporting appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz only once the fighting stops.
▪The U.S. and Israel began strikes against Tehran on February 28.
▪Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday that Warsaw had no plans to relocate its Patriot air defense systems to the Middle East.
▪France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. have resisted sending warships to the Gulf since the U.S. and Israel began strikes against Tehran on February 28.
▪Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo announced Spain's restrictions on U.S. military aircraft on Monday.
▪Spain has barred U.S. military aircraft involved in the Middle East conflict from using its airspace.
▪Spain has refused U.S. military aircraft access to key bases in connection with the Middle East conflict.

Trump's Criticism of European Allies and Strait of Hormuz Security

▪President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that France had closed its airspace to aircraft transporting military supplies to Israel.

Perspective of Marco Rubio and U.S. administration

▪Donald Trump is strongly considering withdrawing the United States from NATO over allies' refusal to support military action against Iran.
▪Marco Rubio characterized the current NATO arrangement as unfavorable to the United States if it only involves defending Europe without reciprocal basing rights.

Perspective of Donald Trump

▪Donald Trump stated the United States will remember France's unhelpful actions regarding military supply aircraft to Israel.
▪Donald Trump told European allies to obtain their own oil rather than expecting U.S. military protection of Middle Eastern shipping routes.