Trump threatens to break NATO's promise over Iran war

President Trump has threatened to withdraw from NATO or "reexamine" the alliance's value after several members refused to provide logistical support, airspace access, or military bases for U.S. operations against Iran, calling them "cowards." Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the administration would reassess NATO's value, while Trump said he might quit the alliance entirely over the refusal to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. NATO's mutual defense framework doesn't formally apply to Iran operations, but Trump's conditional commitment to Article 5—the cornerstone pledge that an attack on one member is an attack on all—has created an existential crisis for the 80-year-old alliance. European leaders, particularly those bordering Russia, now face the prospect that Trump may not honor collective defense obligations if a NATO member is attacked. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Washington next week to attempt repairs, though a 2023 law co-sponsored by Secretary of State Rubio requires congressional approval for any presidential withdrawal.