NATO boss backs Trump’s Iran operation after European leaders balked: ‘I commend the president’
NATO boss Mark Rutte backs Trump’s Iran operation after European leaders balked
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NATO boss backs Trump’s Iran operation after European leaders balked: ‘I commend the president’
By Caitlin Doornbos Published June 25, 2026, 3:50 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on GoogleNATO Secretary General Mark Rutte threw his support behind President Trump’s military campaign against Iran Thursday, praising the operation even as some European leaders have sought to distance themselves from the strikes.
“What the US did is crucial,” Rutte told reporters in a roundtable interview. “I commend the president for doing that.”
The NATO chief said both last year’s Midnight Hammer nuclear facility bombing campaign and the recent war operations — dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” — played a key role in degrading Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
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“This whole operation, Epic Fury, and the bombing last year is all part of degrading the nuclear capability,” Rutte said. “Which is crucial for Europe; crucial for, of course, the Middle East.”
The remarks put Rutte at odds with several European politicians who have criticized Trump’s approach toward Iran or sought to publicly distance themselves from the operation — with some countries denying the US access to its military bases during the war.
For example, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in March blasted the US-led operation as “illegal, reckless and unjust” and warned that the West could not “play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions of people.”
Spain saw the majority of Trump’s ire over a lack of NATO support for the war, with Madrid barring US war-related flights from Spanish airspace in addition to being one of the several countries that refused to allow American forces to use jointly operated military bases for the campaign.
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Still, Rutte argued Europe helped in other ways.
“More generally speaking, Europe functioned as the power projection platform of the US,” he said, citing thousands of US military sorties launched from European bases.
Rutte also credited Trump with forcing European nations to finally boost defense spending after years of lagging behind Washington.
“I would say largely thanks to this president,” Rutte said. “I credit him for this.”
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The NATO chief also offered another notable assessment when discussing Trump’s evolving relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom the president called “courageous” in remarks a day earlier.
Rutte suggested Trump’s warmer comments about Zelensky during their meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday reflected growing recognition of Ukraine’s recent battlefield successes against Russia.
“I think what the president also acknowledged … is that the Ukrainians are doing quite well,” Rutte said.
He pointed to successful Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries and military targets deep inside Russian territory, while arguing Moscow’s losses continue to mount to roughly 35,000 troops per month.
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“The Russians are losing now what the Soviets lost in 10 years in Afghanistan,” he said.
Rutte said Ukraine’s military has effectively stalled Russia’s advance and may even be regaining territory in some areas.
“The Russians stopped making big advances,” he said. “There’s even some talk of the Ukrainians getting back some of the territory from the Russians.”
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At the same time, he stressed that Kyiv remains heavily dependent on Western air defense systems, particularly Patriot batteries and missile interceptors, which are supplied by the US but paid for by European partners.
Despite more than a year of US-led diplomatic efforts, Rutte said Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little genuine interest in ending the war.
“The problem is that Putin is not playing ball,” he said. “The only one willing to sit down is Zelensky. Zelensky is willing to sit down with Putin, sit down with anyone to get to a deal.”
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“Putin is not serious so far, because he’s only repeating his maximalist demands,” he added.
Rutte rejected suggestions that the Trump administration had shifted attention away from Ukraine because of the Iran conflict, arguing senior US officials remain deeply involved in efforts to broker a settlement.
“The president himself, but also [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio and [Special Envoy Steve] Witkoff and [Jared] Kushner” remain engaged, he said.
Rutte suggested that any lack of progress is because of Moscow.
“I don’t think it’s a lack of focus [on the Ukraine war,]” he said. “It is absolutely part of the fact that the Russians are not really involved.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
