Stashing grievances over lack of wartime cooperation? US secretary of state: "NATO alliance to be reassessed after Iran operation ends"

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on the 30th (local time) that the NATO alliance framework should be comprehensively reassessed after the conclusion of military operations against Iran.

According to News1 and other outlets, Rubio made the remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera, pointing to a situation in which NATO member states are refusing to grant the United States basing rights when needed.

Rubio raised serious questions about NATO’s utility. He said, "One reason NATO is beneficial to the United States is that it provides basing rights in emergencies."

He continued, "Countries like Spain, which we have pledged to defend, refuse access to their airspace and bases and say so proudly," adding, "If it is focused only on Europe’s defense and we are turned away when we need it, it is never a good arrangement."

President Donald Trump has also hinted at reassessing ties with NATO. On the 27th, Trump argued, "We spent hundreds of millions of dollars every year to protect them, but seeing their lukewarm stance on supporting the war against Iran, there’s no longer any need to do that."

On Iran’s nuclear issue, Rubio reaffirmed a hard-line stance. He declared, "The Iranian regime must never possess nuclear weapons." He presented, as minimum negotiating conditions, an end to support for terrorism and a halt to the development of weapons that threaten neighboring countries. The US position is that Iran must take concrete steps to fully abandon its ambitions to develop nuclear capabilities.

He also made clear that recognizing Iran’s demand for control over the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable. Rubio criticized Iran’s call for recognition of such control as "a demand the world cannot accept."

Rubio expressed confidence that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened after the operation ends. He said, "Either Iran will agree to comply with international law and not block the waterway, or a US-led coalition will ensure the strait remains open."

Han Gyeong-woo, Hankyung.com reporter case@hankyung.com