US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raises allegations against NATO allies.Image: keystone
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticized Spain and other NATO partners for a lack of support in the war against Iran – and suggested a later reassessment of the alliance by the US.
March 31, 2026, 05:06March 31, 2026, 05:21
At a time when allies are needed, the United States must realize that NATO member Spain, which it has committed to defending, is denying the United States use of its airspace and is bragging about it, Rubio told Al Jazeera, according to a transcript from his ministry. He also criticized the fact that the USA had encountered resistance to the use of bases in Spain and elsewhere.
NATO is useful for the USA because it allows the country to station soldiers and military equipment in other places. But if the alliance is only about the United States defending Europe in the event of an attack, but denying the United States the use of bases when it needs it, that is not a good agreement. It’s difficult to stick with it and say that this is good for the USA, Rubio continued.
After the war, the USA would have to reevaluate all of this, he emphasized. NATO is an alliance and as such “should not be a one-way street”. Rubio added: “Let’s hope we can fix this.”
Which behavior is met with criticism in the USA
The Spanish government recently closed its airspace to all aircraft linked to the war against Iran. Shortly after the start of the war a month ago, it banned the USA from using the Rota and Morón military bases for operations against Iran. These bases in Andalusia in the south of the country have been operated jointly by Spain and the USA for decades.
Trump has recently spoken out against NATO partners several times because of what he sees as a lack of support in the war with Iran. With regard to the US use of military bases in Europe, he also criticized Great Britain for delaying in granting approval.
An important cornerstone of the defense alliance is the mutual assistance obligation of the allies in the event of an attack according to Article 5. The attack on Iran launched by the USA and Israel is not covered by this. The US approach has caused criticism, particularly among the European alliance countries, because it was not discussed with NATO members. US President Trump also caused anger when he threatened military action against Greenland, which is part of the NATO state Denmark, in January.
(sda/dpa/con)