Rubio Says U.S. Missions Faced ‘Unnecessary Dangers’ After NATO Allies Denied Base Access

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast fresh doubt on the reliability of some NATO allies on Friday after talks in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying the United States would need to examine the value of maintaining forces in Europe if allied governments refused to allow the U.S. to use the military bases on their territory during crises.

Mr. Rubio’s remarks came at the end of a two-day visit to Italy and the Vatican that sought to contain growing strains between Washington and several European governments over the U.S.-led confrontation with Iran. While reaffirming his longstanding support for NATO, Rubio said recent events had exposed tensions within the alliance over how far European members were willing to support American military operations beyond the alliance’s core defensive mandate.

“One of the advantages of being in NATO is that it allows us to have forces deployed in Europe and bases that allow us a logistical ability to project power in case of contingencies,” Mr. Rubio told reporters in Rome. He said some European countries had refused American requests to use bases during the Iran conflict, adding that such restrictions had imposed operational costs and increased risks.

“If one of the main reasons why the U.S. is in NATO is the ability to have forces deployed in Europe that we could project to other contingencies, and now that’s no longer the case, at least when it comes to some NATO members, that’s a problem and has to be examined,” Mr. Rubio said.

Mr. Rubio specifically pointed to Spain, which has publicly resisted deeper involvement in the Iran conflict and reportedly denied the United States permission to use facilities on Spanish territory for certain operations linked to the crisis.

“We had a contingency and some countries in Europe, some countries in Europe like Spain as an example, denied us the use of those bases for a very important contingency that in some ways, the denial of those bases actually impeded the mission, not severely but had a cost and in fact, even created some unnecessary dangers,” said the U.S. Secretary of State.

Italy has also faced scrutiny after reports that Rome restricted the use of the Sigonella air base in Sicily for offensive missions related to Iran, reflecting domestic political pressure and broader European unease about being drawn into another Middle East conflict.

The comments underscored a widening strategic divide between Washington and parts of Europe despite repeated public commitments on both sides to preserve transatlantic unity. U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on NATO members in recent months, accusing European allies of benefiting from American military protection while failing to adequately support U.S. operations overseas.

The dispute has unfolded against the backdrop of the war with Iran and fears over security in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes. U.S. officials have argued that Iran’s threats to maritime routes and regional stability require stronger allied backing, but several European governments have instead focused on preventing escalation and pushing for diplomacy.

Italy occupies a particularly sensitive position within the alliance. Prime Minister Meloni has maintained close ties with Washington and broadly supported President Trump on security matters, but she faces strong domestic opposition to direct military involvement in the Iran conflict. Italian officials have repeatedly stressed that NATO is fundamentally a defensive alliance and have argued that participation in offensive military operations requires political and parliamentary approval.

Mr. Rubio’s visit appeared aimed partly at limiting broader damage to relations with Rome after weeks of friction over Iran, tariffs, and President Trump’s criticism of some European leaders.

Before meeting Prime Minister Meloni, Mr. Rubio held talks with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who expressed hope that the visit had helped calm tensions with the United States, and sought to emphasize the strategic importance of the U.S.-Europe relationship.

“I am convinced Europe needs America, Italy needs America, but also that the United States needs Europe and Italy,” Mr. Tajani told reporters.

The debate over access to American bases in Europe also comes as the Trump administration weighs adjustments to U.S. troop deployments across the continent. The United States recently announced plans to remove around 5,000 troops from Germany, although Mr. Rubio insisted no final decisions had been made on wider force reductions.

He emphasized that the planned reduction of U.S. forces in Germany represents “less than 14% of our total troop presence there” and described it as part of a “pre-programmed” plan to “shift” some burden within NATO.

The United States maintains tens of thousands of troops across Europe through NATO infrastructure built during the Cold War, giving it access to major air, naval, and logistical hubs stretching from Germany and Italy to Spain and Britain. American officials have long argued that the network allows rapid military deployment not only for European defense but also for operations in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.

However, Mr. Rubio’s remarks highlighted the growing debate inside the Trump administration over whether NATO should continue functioning as a broader platform for American power projection if allies place limits on how U.S. forces can operate from European territory.

Even so, Mr. Rubio stopped short of threatening an immediate military withdrawal and stressed that any final decisions would rest with President Trump.

Tanmay Kadam is a geopolitical observer based in India. He has experience working as a Defense and International Affairs journalist for EurAsian Times. He can be contacted at tanmaykadam700@gmail.com.