Rutte Backs Trump’s Iran Strategy as NATO Cites 500 U.S. Planes Using Italian Bases
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 24
Rutte Backs Trump’s Iran Strategy as NATO Cites 500 U.S. Planes Using Italian Bases
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 24
Summary
Mark Rutte said Trump is doing “exactly what is needed” to degrade Iran’s nuclear capability, framing the campaign as necessary for NATO and U.S. security before their Wednesday meeting.
500 U.S. planes used Italian bases during Operation Epic Fury, Rutte said, pushing back on Trump’s complaint that allies were not helping and calling the shortfalls isolated cases.
Bucharest also reduced commercial flights so U.S. forces could store tanker facilities at its airport, while European allies have pre-positioned assets near the Strait of Hormuz for tasks including demining.
Trump had blasted NATO a day earlier for spending disputes and a lack of support, but Rutte said the president’s pressure has already driven higher allied defense spending and industrial production.