US-Israeli strikes 'very important' for security, says NATO's Rutte

 NATO’s top official on Thursday downplayed signs of a widening rift inside the alliance even as a dispute between the United States and key European allies over how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has revealed divisions within the 32-nation military bloc. Secretary-General Mark Rutte, speaking from NATO’s Brussels headquarters, said allies are “intensely discussing” how to contend with the closure of the key Middle East oil chokepoint as energy costs continue to climb. The talks center on finding “the best way forward to tackle this huge security issue. And let me add that I’m confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interests,” Rutte said. “So we will find a way forward.” While Rutte has previously stated there isn’t a direct role for the alliance in the ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, he said Thursday that the overarching aim of the effort is in Europe’s security interests.

“This is important for European security, for the Middle East. It is vital for Israel itself. A nuclear Iran would potentially have been a direct threat to the future of Israel, but again, to the whole Middle East and to Europe,” Rutte said. Rutte’s comments come after President Donald Trump earlier this week lashed out at NATO. Trump has warned of potential consequences related to a lack of support when it comes to dealing with the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil travels. Trump on Tuesday, when asked by a reporter whether the situation was cause for rethinking American involvement in NATO, reiterated past complaints that the United States shoulders most of the security burden in Europe. “It’s one of the reasons we have deficits and we help other countries, and then they don’t help us,” Trump said. “I mean, it’s certainly something that we should think about.” Trump said that if he were to decide to leave NATO, an alliance formed in the aftermath of World War II to counter the Soviet Union, he has the authority to do so on his own.

“I don’t need Congress for that decision,” Trump said, before adding, “I have nothing currently in mind, but I will say that I’m not exactly thrilled.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a longtime backer of NATO who in 2023 backed legislation aimed at making it more difficult for a president to unilaterally quit the alliance, said Tuesday on X that Europe’s refusal to provide military assets for an effort to open Hormuz could put the future of NATO at risk.

“The repercussions of providing little assistance to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning are going to be wide and deep for Europe and America,” Graham said. “I consider myself very forward-leaning on supporting alliances, however, at a time of real testing like this, it makes me second guess the value of these alliances.” Reactions in Europe have been mixed since the start of Operation Epic Fury, which launched Feb. 28. Early on, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he and Trump were on “the same page.” But in the past week, German officials have distanced themselves from the campaign and said they would not participate in any military operation to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Other countries in Europe also have not signaled any interest is assisting the U.S. in such an effort. However, both the United Kingdom and Romania have allowed the U.S. to use bases on their soil to launch attacks on Iran, and Ramstein Air Base in Germany has seen an uptick in U.S. military air traffic. Spain’s prime minister said he would block U.S. access to Spanish bases for Iran missions.  And while NATO isn’t playing an active role in the conflict, it has stepped up its air defenses over the past week in response to Iranian missiles being directed at Turkey. NATO now has three Patriot air defense units deployed to Turkey, home to Incirlik Air Base and a radar manned by U.S. troops that plays a key role in the alliance’s integrated air defense network.

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2026-03-19/nato-iran-hormuz-21115910.html