Brussels 23.03.2026 NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte offered a full endorsement of President Donald Trump’s military efforts against Iran and also said he expects the nations of the Alliance to unite to support Trump.
NATO Secretary Mark Rutte won't even condemn Trump calling his organization "cowards" pic.twitter.com/HONS7KJvpj
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 22, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
“What I know is that we always come together,” Rutte told host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Rutte has consistently been supportive of Trump even as some of the leading European powers pointing to NATO was intended to be a defensive alliance, and subsequently have expressed reluctance to join Trump for the Iran war. Especially an invitation to join the efforts to make the Strait of Hormuz safe for the passage of oil tankers was received with scepticism by the European allies.
"Joining Trump in the Strait of Hormuz is like buying a ticket for the Titanic after hitting the iceberg."
French NATO General YakovleffSpeaking calmly but with unmistakable finality, Yakovleff listed five explicit reasons France (and Europe) must refuse:
1) NATO operation… https://t.co/fIpAJAgSF3 pic.twitter.com/fi7gz4gGD7
— Financelot (@FinanceLancelot) March 19, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Trump, for his part, has lashed out at NATO. “Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran,” he wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices. So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!”
Rutte, while expressing reluctance to criticize the European leaders, said of Trump: “He’s doing this to make the whole world safe.”
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 09:43 AM EST 03.20.26
Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) March 20, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
A former prime minister of the Netherlands, Rutte told Brennan it was taking the European powers some time to come around because they had been left out of the initial planning in an effort to preserve the element of surprise of the American and Israeli attacks.
“I understand the president’s frustration that it takes some time, but again I also ask for some understanding because nations had to prepare for this not knowing,” Rutte said.
🚨🇺🇸 Former NATO Commander on US-Iran Conflict
A retired NATO commander says President Trump faces a difficult choice: either order a major ground invasion of Iran or step back and risk appearing weak if he tries to declare victory without significant military progress. pic.twitter.com/SBFx8x9UwO
— Defense News (@defensesignal) March 23, 2026
EUROPE DIPLOMATIC 