Rubio Faces Tough G7 Meeting After Trump Criticizes NATO Over Iran Conflict

Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to France for G7 meetings following President Trump's harsh criticism of NATO allies for not supporting the U.S. in the Iran war. European allies remain skeptical of the conflict and frustrated by lack of consultation before military action began.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Following President Donald Trump’s sharp criticism of NATO allies regarding their reluctance to support U.S. military action in Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to France Friday to meet with his Group of Seven diplomatic counterparts amid growing international skepticism about the conflict.

The diplomatic mission faces significant challenges as Rubio attempts to convince other G7 foreign ministers to back America’s Iran strategy, which has drawn objections from nearly all partner nations. Trump’s harsh remarks about NATO during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting have complicated Rubio’s diplomatic efforts even further. Among G7 members beyond the United States, five nations — Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy — belong to the transatlantic defense alliance, with only Japan remaining outside the organization.

Rubio departed Washington for the G7 gathering near Paris shortly after Trump expressed strong frustration with NATO countries for failing to support the United States and Israel in the Iran conflict.

“We are very disappointed with NATO because NATO has done absolutely nothing,” Trump said.

The Secretary of State faces the challenge of repairing relationships with European allies who have endured criticism and direct threats from Trump’s administration. European leaders continue to feel stung by Trump’s previous demands for Denmark to surrender Greenland, while also harboring concerns about continued American support for Ukraine against Russia. The Middle Eastern conflict has created an additional source of diplomatic friction.

“Frankly, I think countries around the world, even those that are out there complaining about this a little bit, should actually be grateful that the United States has a president that’s willing to confront a threat like this,” Rubio said at the Cabinet meeting.

When questioned by journalists about the expected response from allies, Rubio expressed optimism before departing for France, stating he anticipated productive discussions with his G7 colleagues and predicted “we’re going to have great meetings.”

He subsequently shared on X that he would engage with “world leaders about the security concerns we share around the world and opportunities to address the situation in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war.”

Trump has expressed frustration over his inability to build coalition support for his chosen military campaign against Iran, with NATO and most other allies declining his requests to help maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian interference has disrupted petroleum transport and elevated energy costs worldwide.

“We’re there to protect NATO, to protect them from Russia. But they’re not there to protect us,” Trump said Thursday. He later added: “I never thought we needed them. I was more doing a test.”

Prior to the American president’s statements, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted increased defense expenditures by alliance members — something Trump has consistently demanded — acknowledging that Europe and Canada had previously relied too heavily on American military strength, though a “shift in mindset” has emerged.

Rutte emphasized NATO’s position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and noted the alliance has “long recognized the threat Iran’s missile program posed to allies and their interests. And what the United States is currently doing is degrading those capabilities, both the nuclear and the missile.”

France, which is hosting the G7 discussions at a historic abbey near Versailles, has expressed considerable doubt about the military campaign. French defense chief Gen. Fabien Mandon criticized American officials this week for failing to notify allies before beginning combat operations.

“They have just decided to intervene in the Near and Middle East without notifying us,” Mandon said. “We acted immediately, surprised by an American ally, who remains an ally, but who is less and less predictable and doesn’t even bother to inform us when it decides to engage in military operations. This affects our security. This affects our interests.”

Nevertheless, 35 nations participated in military discussions led by Mandon regarding plans to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz “once the intensity of hostilities has sufficiently decreased,” according to France’s Defense Ministry.

Rubio argued that with Iran threatening international maritime commerce, nations committed to international law “should step up and deal with it.”

Other allies have voiced concerns similar to Mandon’s while also questioning America’s dedication to Ukraine as the Iran conflict approaches its fourth week.

“We must avoid further destabilization, secure our economic freedom and develop perspectives for an end of and the time after the hostilities,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday. “Our joint support for Ukraine … must not crumble now. That would be a strategic mistake with a view to Euro-Atlantic security.”

Wadephul indicated his expectation “that we can define a joint position” regarding the Middle Eastern situation.

“Of course, this is about ending this conflict as quickly as possible, but also ending it sustainably, and that means bringing about security in the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring overall that the Iranian regime, which in the past has behaved negatively enough, is also curtailed in the future,” Wadephul said.