NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran, telling Fox News that Trump “did exactly what needed to be done” and that his current path toward a final deal is the right one. Rutte said he fully supports the American president on the issue and commended Trump’s efforts to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear capabilities.
Rutte warned that a nuclear-armed Tehran would be devastating for the region, asking, “Can you imagine if Iran had nuclear weapons?” He said the prospect of Iran getting the bomb is dangerous and that preventing it remains essential.
He also confirmed that NATO made its bases available for U.S. military operations against Iran in the war that began on February 28. On the Strait of Hormuz, Rutte said European countries had started deploying military units near the waterway to help with mine-clearing.
The comments come after Trump repeatedly accused NATO and its member states of failing to support the United States in the war against Iran and of not doing enough to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has also charged that NATO would not allow American aircraft to use its bases for strikes inside Iran, further straining relations with the alliance. He has long argued that NATO benefits Europe more than the United States, despite Washington bearing most of Europe’s defense burden, and has even threatened to withdraw U.S. forces from some NATO bases in Europe.
