Rutte Says NATO Allies Are Helping U.S. on Iran After a ‘Slow’ Start

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday that European allies are now providing extensive support to the United States in its conflict with Iran, after an initially “slow” response.

“I sensed his disappointment about the fact that he felt that too many allies were not with him,” Rutte said during a speech at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, a day after he met with Trump and senior administration officials in Washington.

Rutte said he had an “open and candid” conversation with the president, who has been vocal about his frustrations with NATO.

Ahead of the meeting, the White House said Trump was still considering withdrawing from NATO over allies’ reluctance to help force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that has become the major topic in the conflict.

Trump came out of the meeting with Rutte dissatisfied.

“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!” he wrote on his Truth Social Wednesday.

Rutte said in his speech on Thursday that allies were not informed ahead of the initial strikes in Iran.

“When it came time to provide the logistical and other support the United States needed in Iran, some allies were a bit slow, to say the least,” Rutte said.

“They were also a bit surprised,” he added.

Rutte said that dynamic contributed to early hesitation across Europe but argued that the situation has since shifted significantly.

“But what I see, when I look across Europe today, is allies providing a massive amount of support,” he said. “Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United States is asking.”