US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has once again expressed his disappointment at what his government considers to be insufficient support from European governments in the war against Iran.
One of the benefits of NATO membership is the ability to station troops in Europe and maintain bases for logistics in emergencies, he said in Rome on Friday. "If that is no longer the case, at least when it comes to some NATO members, that's a problem, and it needs to be examined."
Ultimately, he said, the decision on how to respond lies with US President Donald Trump.
The refusal of countries such as Spain to make bases available to the United States in an emergency has incurred costs and had "created some unnecessary dangers," Rubio said.
The US encountered resistance in both Spain and Italy regarding the use of military bases for the war in Iran.
Trump is now threatening to withdraw troops from Europe, and has already said that he is pulling 5,000 US soldiers out of Germany. That is less than 14% of the total, Rubio said.
Rubio had previously met Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
The latter described his meeting with Rubio as positive, noting that he had emphasized the importance of Western unity and trans-Atlantic relations.
Italy supports all efforts towards a lasting ceasefire with Iran, Tajani said. It is also prepared to assist with its own navy in clearing mines and securing the Strait of Hormuz.
We do not want trade wars, Tajani said, referring to disputes with the US.
At the meeting, Rubio was also presented with a family tree tracing his roots back to Piedmont in north-western Italy.
Rubio, who speaks Spanish as the son of Cuban immigrants, revealed that he was learning Italian and could understand everything. He promised that he would deliver a speech in Italian on his next visit.
