NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in a Fox News interview, rebutted President Trump's criticism that Italy refused to allow the US to use its bases during operations against Iran, stating that 500 American aircraft actually took off from Italian bases during the campaign. The exchange is the latest in a public dispute between Trump and a key ally over burden-sharing during the conflict.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte directly countered President Donald Trump's accusation that Italy denied the United States access to its military bases during operations against Iran, telling Fox News that 500 US aircraft launched from Italian bases throughout the campaign.
The remark, reported Wednesday morning by Asaf Rozentzweig (N12), is Rutte's most detailed public defense of an ally that Trump has singled out repeatedly. On Saturday, Trump posted on social media that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" for a photo at the G7 summit and accused Italy of refusing landing rights for US military aircraft — undermining logistics despite US financial contributions to NATO.
Earlier Wednesday, Rutte had acknowledged that some NATO members disappointed the US by not granting access, but called the cases isolated. His Fox News response goes further by providing a specific figure that appears to contradict the president's narrative. The exchange underscores the strain within the alliance over the scope of allied support for military action against Iran, a tension The Zioneer has tracked across multiple reports this month.
- DevelopingNATO chief acknowledges allied disappointment over US access during Iran war
- DevelopingTrump says Meloni begged for G7 photo, slams Italy's refusal to aid Iran military action
- DevelopingNATO chief: Trump doing 'exactly what needs to be done' on Iran
- DevelopingTrump dismisses reporter, claims Americans 'demand' funding for Iran war
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