KABUL: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sharply questioned the value of NATO for Washington, suggesting the alliance should be reassessed following the conflict with Iran.
In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, Rubio criticized what he described as a lack of cooperation from allies, asking why the United States maintains a costly presence in NATO if it cannot access allied bases when needed.
“Why are we in NATO? Why do we spend trillions of dollars and deploy so many forces if, at critical moments, we are not allowed to use these bases?” he said.
Rubio added that the U.S. may be forced to reevaluate the alliance’s usefulness, noting that the final decision would rest with President Donald Trump.
He said the review would assess whether NATO continues to serve U.S. interests or has become a one-sided relationship, arguing that Washington often acts to defend Europe but does not receive equivalent support in return.
His remarks echo earlier criticism by Trump, who has repeatedly voiced frustration over NATO’s role during the recent conflict.