NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Europe is moving quickly to respond to U.S. demands for help after the war involving Iran exposed fresh cracks inside the Atlantic alliance, with European governments now under pressure to show concrete support in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
Rutte's remarks came after a high-stakes White House meeting with President Donald Trump, who has sharply criticized NATO allies for not doing enough during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Rutte has since told European governments that Trump wants concrete commitments within days to help protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil transit routes. Iran has effectively blocked the Strait during the conflict, turning freedom of navigation there into a central issue for Washington and its allies.
Speaking in Washington, Rutte said some NATO members had been slow to react at first, but insisted that the broader European response is now accelerating. He said some alliance members were initially "a bit slow" and "a bit surprised," stating that NATO "had to scramble" to react. Still, he added that there is now a "massive amount" of support, including offers related to basing and logistics. He also said that, "Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United States is asking. They have heard and are responding to President Trump's requests."
His comments followed even more pointed remarks a day earlier, when Rutte acknowledged that some European allies had failed an early test during the Iran war. In an interview with CNN, Rutte said that when asked whether NATO countries had been tested and failed, "Some of them yes," though he stressed that a large majority of European countries had done what they had previously promised in such a scenario. He said his conversation with Trump had been "frank and open," and confirmed that the U.S. president had expressed disappointment with allied participation.
Reuters reported that Trump has discussed with advisers the possibility of removing some U.S. troops from Europe, driven in part by anger over what he sees as insufficient allied support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A senior White House official told Reuters that no final decision has been made.
Several allies have signaled they are willing to help secure Hormuz, but many want a more durable ceasefire and clearer guarantees from Iran before committing ships or other assets. Britain is leading a group of around 40 countries seeking a military and diplomatic plan to reopen and safeguard the strait. At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said about 15 countries are preparing efforts to facilitate the resumption of traffic.
