Hegseth criticizes NATO allies for hesitating on Iran military strikes

War Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that some traditional US allies were “whining about the use of force” as Washington ramps up its campaign against Iran, raising new questions about the integrity of NATO at a moment when the situation is escalating.

Spain has rejected US permission to use certain bases for attacks against Iran and called for de-escalation and compliance with international law. Türkiye criticized the operation and warned of wider regional instability, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was “saddened” by the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and denied that Turkish territory was used in the campaign.

“The outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran has serious consequences for international peace and security,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday. “Continued escalation is dangerous for everyone. It needs to stop.”

At Monday’s media briefing, Hegseth noted a sharp contrast between Israel and countries he described as hesitant allies. “Israel also has clear missions, and for that we are grateful. As we have said from the beginning, capable partners are good partners, unlike many of our traditional allies who wring their hands, clutch their pearls, whine and moan about the use of force.”

The criticism reflects growing frustration within the administration that operational support does not match the rhetoric, with some European capitals issuing statements of support.

President Donald Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with allies’ hesitation. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Trump said he was “very disappointed” that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had initially blocked the US from using British bases, and that Starmer had taken “a lot of time” to reverse course.

The UK later allowed the use of key installations, including Diego Garcia, after raising initial legal objections and following a drone attack on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pose for a family photo with NATO country leaders at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Heads of State and Government summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. (Ben Stansall/Pool via Reuters)

Justin Fulcher, Hegseth’s former senior adviser, told Fox News Digital that this moment is “an absolutely critical turning point where NATO has to act in a unified way to support what the United States is doing.”

It framed the issue in a larger context than the current campaign. Fulcher argued that visible unity would send a message not only to Tehran but also to other geopolitical rivals who are watching how the alliance will react under pressure, saying, “Symbolically, the US-NATO alliance is critical to reestablishing deterrence globally.” he said.

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President Donald Trump (R) speaks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a group photo of NATO heads of state and government at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte tried to downplay proposals for partition.

“I spoke to all the key European leaders over the weekend,” Rutte told Fox News. “There is widespread support for what the president is doing.”

“Europe is stepping in and doing what is necessary to ensure that this operation can move forward and provide all the necessary facilities.”

Germany adopted a more cautious attitude. Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Sunday that the attacks could lead to a quagmire similar to Iraq or Afghanistan and that Europe would suffer the consequences.

At the same time, he said Berlin would not “lecture” the US “We recognize the dilemma,” he said, explaining that repeated attempts over past decades had not put Iran off trying to acquire nuclear weapons or oppressing its own people. “That’s why we won’t lecture our partners about military strikes against Iran.”

“Despite all doubts, we share many of their aims,” ​​he said.

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Smoke rises in Tehran after the explosion that occurred on March 2, 2026, during the ongoing military attacks of the USA and Israel. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Fulcher contrasted the current hesitation with harsh reactions from some NATO capitals during past alliance disputes, including tensions around Greenland.

“When you look at Greenland, it’s clear that this is a very sensitive issue for some countries in the Alliance,” Fulcher said. “Iran has been a major supporter and funder of terrorism worldwide for decades; these attacks have occurred in Europe, in many NATO and European countries,” he said. “For me, it’s quite shocking that we’re going through a difficult time for many NATO members to fully unify and support the United States and what the United States and Israel are doing in Iran.”

He argued that Europe had a significant strategic incentive to see Iran’s capabilities diminish.

“Actually, I think Europe and NATO will benefit the most from neutralizing the threat posed by Iran,” Fulcher said. “When you look at the ballistic missile threat or some of the state-sponsored terrorism threats, Europe is in some cases much more targeted by that threat than the United States is.”

He emphasized that support should go beyond public approval.

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NATO leaders pose in this photo taken in June. Military leaders are meeting in Washington on Tuesday evening to discuss securities options for Ukraine. (REUTERS/Claudia Greco)

Fulcher concluded: “Some of our European allies can do much more to provide not only support in words, which should be a minimum here, but also support with actual concrete actions.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

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