5 March 2026, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reacts in a one-on-one interview with Reuters on the Iran crisis and the Ukraine war at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Eve Herman | Reuters
Two European diplomats told Reuters on Thursday that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has told some capitals that US President Donald Trump is seeking concrete commitments in the coming days to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Rutte met with President Trump in Washington on Wednesday amid rising tensions within the alliance over the Iran war.
“We note Washington’s complaints that they did not consult with their allies before or after the start of this war,” one diplomat said.
“While NATO itself has no role to play in the war against Iran, the allies would like to cooperate in finding a long-term solution to the Hormuz issue. This could be helpful as negotiations with Iran are underway,” the diplomat said.
The U.S. president has repeatedly referred to NATO as a “paper tiger” in recent weeks and threatened to withdraw from the 32-nation transatlantic alliance, arguing that America’s European allies rely on U.S. security and lack sufficient support for the U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign against Iran.
President Trump said Tuesday that attacks on Iran would be suspended under a two-week ceasefire, but relations remain strained in the aftermath of the conflict.
After the meeting, President Trump posted in capital letters on Truth Social: “NATO wasn’t there when we needed it, and it won’t be there when we need it again.”
Rutte, a Dutchman known in Europe as the “Trump Whisperer” and who has come under fire for his frequent praise of the US leader, said in an interview with CNN after Wednesday’s meeting that Trump was “obviously disappointed in many of our NATO allies and I can understand his point.”
Initial plans underway, but questions remain
Britain is leading a group of about 40 countries trying to develop a military and diplomatic plan to reopen and defend Hormuz, but there are few signs it will lead to a short-term breakthrough. French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that about 15 countries plan to facilitate the reopening of the strait to traffic.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault said on Thursday that a full reopening of Hormuz would not be possible until a permanent deal is reached between the United States and Iran, while Italy and the United Kingdom said they could not accept Iran’s position that it could impose tolls on strait crossings.
A third European diplomat said: “Horms is still being followed up, but this has little to do with what happened at the White House yesterday.”
“We understand the urgency on the American side, and we know that Mr. Rutte is trying to take positions that will help that dialogue. We will raise the appropriate voices and even take appropriate actions in the future, but ultimately the question is not about pleasing the United States, but about creating the right conditions,” the diplomat added.
