NATO says alliance enabled US Iran strikes and vows increased aid to Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that four to five thousand sorties were launched from European bases as part of the U.S. operation against Iran, asserting that the United States could not have carried out the strikes without NATO support. He added that the alliance’s European bases, including those in the United Kingdom and France, were used under bilateral agreements with the United States.

Rutte also announced that NATO members will commit to long‑term, predictable security assistance for Ukraine ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey. The declaration coincides with joint naval exercises involving forces from Norway, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Turkey, France, Spain and the United States, aimed at anti‑submarine warfare and maritime defence.

The remarks come amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for a reassessment of America’s role in NATO and criticism of European contributions, highlighting ongoing internal debates within the alliance while emphasizing continued military cooperation.