The NATO secretary‑general, identified in the source as Mark Rutte, told reporters at the Euronews Defence and Space summit on Wednesday that a United States‑led war against Iran was "absolutely essential". He argued that Washington alone possessed the capability to neutralise Iran’s nuclear capacity, which he described as a looming danger not only for Israel and the broader Middle East but also for European security interests.
Rutte acknowledged that initiating hostilities against Iran would involve significant risks and "downsides", but he maintained that the strategic imperative outweighed those concerns. He suggested that the United States was uniquely positioned to carry out the operation, implying that other regional or global powers lacked the requisite military reach or expertise.
In addition to the call for US action, the NATO chief highlighted the need for Europe to boost its own defence investments. He asserted that increased spending would enable European states to manage security challenges in their immediate vicinity without relying heavily on external actors. Specifically, he said that European forces should assume responsibility for addressing threats posed by the Houthi movement and securing the Red Sea corridor, areas he said had traditionally drawn US involvement.
The remarks came amid ongoing diplomatic tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities and a broader debate within NATO about burden‑sharing and the future of collective defence. While the statement underscores a hard‑line stance on Iran’s nuclear programme, it also signals a push for Europe to develop a more autonomous security posture.
No official response from the United States or other NATO members was included in the source material, and the comments were reported by Middle East Eye as part of a live‑blog update.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/nato-chief-calls-us-war-iran-absolutely-essential.