NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte gives remarks at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (NATO)
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte doubled down Thursday in his support for the Iran war after coming under recent criticism that he overstepped his role in the alliance when he endorsed President Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict.
Rutte, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels where he unveiled the alliance’s annual report, drew attention in Europe this week for his Sunday comments on CBS News in which he said Trump was making the world safer by attacking Iran.
On Thursday, he was repeatedly questioned by reporters about his remarks on the war and whether it was appropriate given that NATO is not directly involved in the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign.
“Let’s not be naive about it,” Rutte said of the nuclear and missile threat posed by Iran. “And what the United States is doing now is degrading that capability. And yes, I applaud it.”
Rutte said there will always be differing views in an alliance of 32 nations. He added that NATO has been officially opposed to the notion of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon for many years.
Still, Rutte’s stance puts him in a difficult position. The role of the secretary-general in NATO has always been primarily about keeping the alliance united and managing the relationship with the United States, the bloc’s undisputed leader.
In the case of the Iran war, several leaders in Europe have raised alarms about the bombing campaign and its consequences, saying Europe was not properly consulted beforehand and should not risk being drawn into any prolonged conflict.
Trump, however, has repeatedly blasted NATO members for not doing more. He has specifically taken issue with European countries not dispatching warships and minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the start of hostilities.
Trump also has suggested there could be consequences for the U.S. relationship with NATO if Europe doesn’t get involved. On Thursday, he reiterated the point on his Truth Social website, saying that “NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation,” (Iran) and to “never forget this very important moment in time.”
Rutte downplayed the possibility of a rift in NATO and heaped praise on Trump, who he said has revitalized the alliance with his demands for bigger defense budgets.
“Without the present administration in the United States and the present president, I don’t think you would ever have reached this commitment to spend 5% of our GDP on defense,” Rutte said.
