The Secretary of War cautioned that some long – standing U.S. allies are “hesitating and being indecisive about the use of force” as Washington continues its campaign against Iran. This has brought up new concerns regarding NATO’s unity during a period of intensification.
Spain has declined to give the U.S. permission to use certain bases for strikes on Iran, advocating for de – escalation and compliance with international law. Turkey has criticized the operation and warned of more extensive regional instability. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he was “saddened” by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death and denied that Turkish territory was used in the campaign.
In a statement issued on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron remarked that, “The outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran has serious implications for international peace and security.” He further added, “The ongoing escalation is perilous for everyone. It must come to an end.”
During Monday’s media briefing, Hegseth made a stark comparison between Israel and what he referred to as hesitant allies. “Israel also has clear – cut missions, and we are thankful for that. As we’ve said from the start, capable partners are good partners. Unlike many of our traditional allies, who wring their hands and show excessive concern, hesitating and being indecisive about the use of force.”
This criticism reflects the increasing frustration within the administration. Although some European capitals have issued statements of support, the practical backing has not lived up to the words.
The President also expressed dissatisfaction with the allies’ hesitation. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially preventing the U.S. from using British bases and that Starmer took “an inordinate amount of time” to change his position.
The United Kingdom later … (the text seems incomplete here), including Diego Garcia, after initially raising legal objections and following a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Justin Fulcher, a former senior adviser to Hegseth, told … Digital that this moment represents “an extremely critical turning point where … in a unified manner to support what the United States is doing.”
He framed the issue as being more significant than the current campaign. “Symbolically, the U.S. – NATO alliance is crucial when it comes to actually restoring global deterrence,” Fulcher said, arguing that visible unity would send a message not only to Tehran but also to other geopolitical rivals observing how the alliance responds under pressure.
… has tried to downplay the suggestions of division.
“I spoke with all the key European leaders over the weekend,” Rutte said on … “There is widespread backing for what the president is doing.”
He added, “Europe is stepping up and doing what’s necessary to ensure this operation can proceed and provide all the necessary support.”
Germany has adopted a more cautious approach. Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Sunday that strikes risk getting caught in an Iraq – or Afghanistan – style quagmire and that Europe would have to bear the consequences.
At the same time, he said Berlin would not “lecture” the U.S. “We understand the dilemma,” he said, explaining that repeated attempts over the past decades have not deterred Iran from trying to acquire nuclear weapons or oppressing its own people. “So we won’t be criticizing our partners for their military strikes against Iran.”
“Despite all the doubts, we share many of their goals,” he said.
Fulcher contrasted the current hesitation with the strong reactions of some NATO capitals during past alliance disputes, including the tensions related to Greenland.
“When you look at Greenland, it was clearly a very sensitive topic for some countries in the Alliance,” Fulcher said. “For decades, Iran has been … all across the globe — attacks that have occurred in Europe, in many NATO and European countries,” he said. “For me, it’s quite astonishing that many NATO members are having a hard time fully uniting and stepping up to support the United States and what the U.S. and Israel are doing in Iran.”
He argued that Europe has a major strategic incentive to see Iran’s capabilities weakened.
“I actually think Europe and NATO have the most to gain from neutralizing the threat originating from Iran,” Fulcher said. “Whether it’s the ballistic missile threat or some of the state – sponsored terrorism threats, in some cases, Europe has been more affected by these threats than the United States.”
He emphasized that support should go beyond public endorsements.
“Some of our European allies can do a lot more. It’s not just about supporting with words, which should be the bare minimum here, but also providing actual tangible support,” Fulcher concluded.
Reuters contributed to this report.