US secretary of state signals possible review of NATO relations

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington may reconsider its relationship with NATO, describing the alliance’s lack of support during the operation against Iran as very disappointing in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Rubio specifically pointed to Spain, which not only denied the United States access to its airspace and military bases but also “boasts about it.” 

“We have countries like Spain, a NATO member that we are pledged to defend, denying us the use of their airspace and bragging about it, denying us the use of their bases,” Rubio stated.

He suggested that if NATO is focused solely on protecting Europe while declining to support the United States, then the deal falls short of being effective.

“If NATO is just about us defending Europe from attack, but them denying us basing rights when we need them, that’s not a very good arrangement,” Rubio added.

The Secretary of State stressed that the alliance must be mutually beneficial for all members, adding that this will have to be fixed after the war with Iran.

By Jeyhun Aghazada