NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Monday that European allies have received President Trump’s message loud and clear regarding military cooperation and are now taking action to fulfill base usage agreements.
Speaking to reporters at a European Political Community summit in Armenia, Rutte acknowledged U.S. frustrations while highlighting European responses to American concerns about support during the Iran conflict.
“Yes, there has been some disappointment from the U.S. side, but Europeans have listened,” Rutte stated during the summit.
The NATO chief emphasized that European nations are now working to ensure proper implementation of bilateral military base agreements. “They are now making sure that all the bilateral basing agreements are being implemented,” he explained.
President Trump has previously criticized certain NATO members for providing inadequate assistance to the United States in the ongoing Iran war. These tensions prompted the U.S. to announce Friday its intention to remove 5,000 military personnel from Germany.
While Spain has declared that its military installations cannot support the Iran conflict, Rutte noted that numerous other NATO allies are cooperating with American requests. Countries including Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Britain, France and Germany are all providing base access and logistical assistance, according to the secretary general.
Rutte also revealed that an increasing number of European countries are positioning naval assets like minehunters and minesweepers near the Persian Gulf region in preparation for potential future operations.
Several European nations have expressed willingness to participate in missions aimed at protecting maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz following the conclusion of current hostilities.
