US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies has been “disappointing” during the war involving Iran and Israel, and indicated that the relationship could be reviewed after the end of the conflict.
In an interview with Al JazeeraRubio criticized the stance of European countries, citing restrictions on the use of airspace and military bases by the United States. “It was very disappointing,” he said, adding that, given this scenario, “all of this will have to be re-examined” after the military operation.
The secretary stressed that the alliance needs to be “mutually beneficial” and cannot function as “a one-way street”, when mentioning questions within the American government about NATO’s strategic advantages.
Continues after advertising
Rubio also stated that the offensive against Iran has clear objectives and a limited duration. According to him, the operation will be closed when these goals are achieved. “The war in Iran will end when we achieve our goals,” he declared. Among these objectives, he cited the destruction of Iranian military capabilities, including its air force, navy, missile launchers and weapons production facilities. Rubio stated that the US is “on track” to meet these goals and indicated that this should happen in “weeks, not months”.
The secretary reiterated that, after meeting these goals, it will be up to Iran to decide whether it will continue to respect international standards, especially with regard to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key point for the global flow of energy.
