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NATO chief says some European allies were tested and failed in Iran war

  • Rutte's comments ⁠came after a meeting with ​US President Donald Trump at the ​White House earlier in the day
Published April 9, 2026 Updated April 9, 2026 12:30pm
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WASHINGTON: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday ​he believes that some NATO ‌countries were tested and failed amid Washington’s criticism over European allies not ​getting involved in the US ​and Israel’s war against Iran.

Rutte’s comments ⁠came after a meeting with ​US President Donald Trump at the ​White House earlier in the day.

During an interview with CNN, the NATO chief ​was asked if he believed ​NATO countries were tested and failed.

“Some of them ‌yes, ⁠but a large majority of European countries, and that’s what we discussed today, have done what ​they promised ​before ⁠in a case like this,” he told CNN.

Trump says he believes China got Iran to negotiate

Rutte said ​he had a “frank and open” discussion with ​Trump, ⁠where the Republican expressed disappointment with America’s allies.

He said he pointed ⁠to ​Trump that European ​countries assisted with logistics and other commitments.


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