Trump Questions NATO's Role, Rubio Names Spain for Refusing Base Access

(CNA Helsingborg, Sweden, May 22 Comprehensive Foreign Report) Since US President Donald Trump questioned the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) due to the Iran war, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with NATO foreign ministers for the first time today in Helsingborg. NATO foreign ministers are working hard to appease the US. Before departing for Sweden to attend the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, Rubio stated that President Trump was "very disappointed" that some NATO members had not agreed to allow the US to use their military bases or expand assistance in the Iran war, specifically naming Spain. Rubio told the media in Miami, USA: "Some countries, like Spain, refuse to let us use bases, so what are these countries doing in NATO? This is a very fair question. And to be fair, there are also countries in NATO that provide assistance to the US, and these are all issues we need to discuss together." Trump has consistently criticized NATO allies for failing to expand assistance to US and Israeli military operations. NATO officials, however, emphasized that the US has not asked NATO allies to participate in the Iran war, but many member states have fulfilled their commitments by allowing US forces to use their airspace and bases within their territories. Trump has previously stated that the US is considering withdrawing from NATO, questioning whether Washington is obligated to uphold mutual defense commitments, and announced the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Europe. Facing the threat of the Trump administration potentially withdrawing entirely from NATO, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European foreign ministers are expected to work hard to appease the US at this Helsingborg meeting. Since the war began, Iran has effectively blockaded shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. European allies emphasize that they are ready to help maintain freedom of navigation in Hormuz when circumstances allow, and simultaneously hope to assume more European security responsibilities. (Compiler: Chi Chin-ling) 1150522