NATO’s Rutte says Europeans ‘got the message’ on Iran war

Rutte said European allies are “stepping up” with basing agreements and naval deployments near the Gulf ahead of a NATO summit in Yerevan, Armenia.rte
The Pentagon on Friday ordered withdrawal of roughly 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, a move officials privately described as punitive over Berlin’s war criticism.aljazeera
Spain remains a holdout, having barred use of its bases for Iran operations, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the troop withdrawal “a surprise.”aljazeera

Rutte Says Europe Got Trump’s Message on Iran War Support

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declared on Monday that European nations have “gotten the message” from U.S. President Donald Trump over their reluctance to back the ongoing U.S.-led war against Iran, as the transatlantic rift over the conflict deepened following Washington’s decision to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.

Europe “Stepping Up,” Rutte Says in Yerevan

Speaking ahead of the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan, Armenia, Rutte acknowledged “disappointment on the US side” with European allies’ response to the war but insisted the continent was now falling into line.rte

“European leaders have gotten the message. They heard the message loud and clear,” Rutte told reporters. “Europeans are stepping up”.rte

Rutte listed NATO countries including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Romania, Portugal, Croatia, and Montenegro as now implementing bilateral agreements on basing requests and logistical support for the U.S. military effort. He also said “more and more” European nations were pre-positioning naval assets such as minehunters and minesweepers near the Gulf in preparation for a “next phase” of the conflict.yahoo

Spain remains a notable holdout. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez refused early in the war to allow joint U.S.-Spanish bases at Rota and Morón de la Frontera to be used for operations against Iran, calling the campaign “unjustified” and outside the bounds of international law. The Pentagon subsequently relocated over a dozen tanker aircraft from Spanish territory.elpais

Troop Withdrawal Raises Alarm

Rutte’s comments followed the Pentagon’s announcement on Friday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months. American officials privately described the move as punitive, aimed at Berlin for failing to contribute to the war effort and for public criticism from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had accused Iran of “humiliating” the United States.nytimes

Over 30,000 U.S. personnel will remain stationed in Germany after the drawdown.cnn

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, also arriving in Yerevan, called the timing of the withdrawal announcement “a surprise” and said it underscored the need to “strengthen the European pillar in NATO.” She added that American troops in Europe serve U.S. interests as well as European ones.rte

A Continent Caught Between Washington and Its Own Limits

The broader European posture toward the Iran war has been one of cautious, indirect involvement — reinforcing bases, deploying naval forces to protect shipping routes, and participating in maritime security missions such as ASPIDES in the Red Sea, while avoiding direct offensive operations. France has mobilized the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and deployed Rafale jets from Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, while the UK has dispatched warships to the Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean.europeanconservative

Multiple European nations have signaled willingness to join a future mission to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end. But as DW News noted Monday, deploying naval assets to the Gulf risks stretching European capabilities at a moment of heightened tensions closer to home.dw