Rubio Says July NATO Summit Will Tackle Trump’s Iran Rift and 80,000-Troop Europe Review
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 22
Rubio Says July NATO Summit Will Tackle Trump’s Iran Rift and 80,000-Troop Europe Review
12 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 22
July’s NATO summit in Ankara will confront Donald Trump’s anger that allies did not join the 38-day US attack on Iran or commit to breaking Tehran’s Hormuz blockade, Marco Rubio said.
Rubio told ministers the alliance needs a “plan B” if peace talks fail and shipping remains under fire, though he said any operation to reopen the strait might involve NATO countries rather than a formal NATO mission.
80,000 US troops in Europe are also set for adjustment after a force review, Rubio said, extending uncertainty after Washington announced 5,000 troops would leave Germany and gave conflicting signals over 4,000 rotating into Poland.
The dispute reflects wider strain over allied support: Spain barred US use of its bases for strikes on Iran, France limited access to support aircraft, and Britain went furthest by allowing strikes from Fairford.
Is the US abandoning old allies for a new security order in Eastern Europe?
After the Iran conflict, can the fractured NATO alliance ever truly be repaired?
With the Strait of Hormuz closed, is the world heading for an unprecedented global energy crisis?