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Trump isolated by NATO allies? Countries close airspace, refuse to join Iran war
Spain announced on Monday that it was closing its airspace for American planes involved in the war with Iran.
United States President Donald Trump finds himself isolated globally amid his war with Iran, apart from its single backer - Israel. As the war rages on, even in its second month, the friction between Trump and his NATO allies has largely grown due to the latter’s lack of willingness to enter the war.
While Trump has asked for NATO countries to join the war on multiple occasions, particularly in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the allies have pushed back and maintained that they do not wish to escalate the situation by entering the war that they did not start.
Track live updates of US Iran war here
Countries close airspace, say won’t participate in war
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that they were not taking part in the ongoing war against Iran and were not consulted about the same. Macron’s remarks came after Trump criticised the country for closing its airspace for planes carrying military supplies for the conflict.
“The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday morning (local time).
Also read: Trump claims Iran has asked for ceasefire: ‘Will consider when Strait of Hormuz is open’
Following this, Macron said, "It is absolutely true that France, which has not been consulted and is not part of this military offensive launched by the United States and Israel, is not taking part in it.” He made the remarks during his visit to Tokyo, speaking to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said on Wednesday that his country will not be “dragged into” the war with Iran. He also announced that he will host a conference later this week to discuss ways of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
While reacting to Trump’s latest remarks on NATO, Starmer backed the alliance and called it “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen, and it has kept us safe for many decades.”
"We are fully committed to NATO. Secondly, that whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I'm going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make,” he added.
"And that's why I've been absolutely clear that this is not our war and we're not going to get dragged into it."
Earlier, Spain announced on Monday that it was closing its airspace for American planes involved in the war with Iran. The country has emerged as one of the staunchest critics of the ongoing conflict.
Italy also did not allow US military assets to use Sicily’s Sigonella air base for an operation linked to the war, according to local reports, later confirmed by an official, as reported by Associated Press.
Also read: ‘Come to draw strength’: Iran's Araghchi joins crowd at Tehran street as war goes on
Trump hints at leaving NATO
Donald Trump hinted on Tuesday that the US could end its operation in Iran in two to three weeks, even if there was no deal made, and also that he might pull out of NATO for its lack of support in the current conflict.
While speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, Trump said that in his address to Americans on the status of war, he will express his disgust with NATO and that he is "absolutely" considering an attempt to withdraw the United States from the alliance.
