Trump is still angry at NATO for not joining the war against Iran – Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Donald Trump administration remains deeply disappointed in its NATO allies due to their cautious stance on the war in Iran.
The head of the State Department made this statement before departing for Sweden, where he will participate in a meeting of the Alliance’s foreign ministers, according to European Truth.
During a press briefing, journalists asked the official about a possible reduction in the size of the U.S. military contingent in Europe. Rubio refrained from making direct announcements but immediately shifted the focus to existing disagreements within the defense bloc over events in the Middle East.
The State Department chief noted that the White House’s dissatisfaction with the Alliance’s current policy is no secret, although he himself has remained a consistent supporter of NATO throughout his political career and considers the alliance important. The Alliance’s main value to Washington lies in the ability to rapidly deploy additional military forces during crises. However, during military operations against Iran, most European countries effectively refused to actively support the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump held a closed-door meeting on Monday evening regarding the situation with Iran, during which he was presented with possible scenarios for military action. At the same time, according to sources, no final decision on U.S. strikes has been made yet.
The United States suffered significant losses of aircraft and drones during the “Epic Fury” military operation in the Middle East. In total, the Pentagon lost or damaged at least 42 pieces of modern equipment.
The United States has concluded the “Epic Fury” offensive operation against Iran, which began in February. Washington is now transitioning to the “Project Freedom” defensive mission, the primary goal of which is to ensure the safe passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States will not allow Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his intention to hold talks with the President of Iran. The French leader has not yet disclosed any details of the upcoming negotiations.
