Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed concerns about the effectiveness of NATO during ongoing global tensions with Iran. He appeared on ‘Fox & Friends’ to discuss international issues and highlight President Donald Trump’s upcoming address to the United Nations General Assembly.
During the segment, Rubio scrutinized the role of NATO after several allies allegedly restricted the U.S. from using military bases during the Iranian conflict. “We had a couple of countries say, ‘You can’t use your base here.’ Well, that’s absurd,” Rubio stated, questioning the purpose of maintaining bases if they are unavailable in times of need.
“If we can’t use our base when we have a contingency, what’s the point of having the base and, frankly, the point of the alliance?” he asked.
Rubio’s commitment to NATO has been consistent throughout his career. He emphasized the strategic advantage the alliance offers through access to bases across Europe, which has historically supported American military operations worldwide. “Access to bases in Europe is one of NATO’s greatest strategic benefits,” Rubio noted, reinforcing his support for the alliance.
Yet Rubio acknowledged frustrations regarding denied access. While he did not name specific nations, it has been reported that certain countries, such as Italy, Spain, and France, have imposed restrictions on U.S. military operations related to the Iran conflict.
For instance, a Newsweek article mentioned Italy’s refusal to allow U.S. bombers to land at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily. Additionally, Spain reportedly closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the conflict, while France restricted U.S. military flights carrying supplies to Israel.
Rubio noted that some NATO members have contributed more than others during the conflict. He expressed optimism that resistance from NATO countries might be decreasing. “I think we’ve had more cooperation lately from a number of countries in NATO, so that is positive, but we’re still very disappointed,” he concluded.
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