A new ultimatum to NATO allies?

As the war between the US and Iran deepens divisions among Western allies and increases Washington's pressure on NATO - from demands for concrete help in the Strait of Hormuz to reports of a possible redeployment of US troops in Europe - the Alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte is trying to ease tensions and maintain relations with Donald Trump.

After Trump expressed his dissatisfaction in a private meeting with Rutte, and in a later statement reiterated that "NATO was not there when we needed it," the Alliance's Secretary General informed some capitals yesterday that the US President wants concrete promises in the next few days about assistance in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Secretary General is in contact with allies regarding his talks in Washington,” NATO spokeswoman Alison Hart said on Thursday. “It is clear that the United States expects concrete commitments and action to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.

It is not clear, however, whether these demands can be interpreted as a kind of ultimatum to the allies, nor what consequences could follow if they are not met.

Rutte said yesterday that member states are doing everything Trump has asked to strengthen the military alliance, although some of them were initially “a bit slow” in providing support to the US during the war with Iran. “When it came time to provide the logistical and other support that the US needed in Iran, some allies were, to put it mildly, a bit slow. To be honest, they were a bit surprised. In order to preserve the element of surprise for the initial strikes, President Trump decided not to inform the allies in advance,” Rutte said during a speech in Washington.

“But what I see today, when I look across Europe, is that the allies are providing tremendous support,” he added. “Almost without exception, the allies are doing everything the United States is asking. They have heard President Trump’s requests and are responding to them.”

NATO would be willing to play a role in a possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz if it could do so, Rutte said, adding, "If NATO can help, then there is clearly no reason not to be helpful."

Britain is leading a group of about 40 countries trying to devise a military and diplomatic plan to reopen and protect the Strait of Hormuz, but there is little sign that it will make any immediate progress. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that about 15 countries are planning to facilitate the resumption of shipping through the strait.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz would not be able to be fully reopened until a lasting agreement is reached between the US and Iran, while Italy and Britain said Iran's position that it could charge a fee for passage through the strait was unacceptable.

Almost without exception, the allies are doing everything the US asks. They have heard President Trump's demands and are responding to them, said Rutte.

"We have an ongoing process regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which is largely unrelated to what happened yesterday at the White House," a European diplomat, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

"We know that there is urgency on the American side and we know that Rutte is trying to position himself in a way that will be helpful in that conversation. We are ready to send the right signals and even take appropriate steps later. But, in the end, the problem is not to please the US, but to establish the right conditions," the diplomat added.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday that he does not want the US-Iran war to further strain relations between the US and its European NATO partners. "We do not want - I do not want - NATO to be divided. NATO is the guarantor of our security, including above all in Europe," he told reporters.

He added that in a phone call he encouraged Trump to urgently resume negotiations with Iran.

Dutchman Rutte, who is known in Europe as the "Trump whisperer" and has faced criticism for his frequent praise of the American leader, said yesterday that "Trump's commitment to progress has reversed more than a generation of stagnation and decline, reminding Europe that values ​​must be backed up by hard power."

In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Rutte said that Trump is “obviously disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can understand his position.” Asked if the world is safer thanks to the US-Israeli war, Rutte replied: “Absolutely.”

The US president has repeatedly called NATO a "paper tiger" and threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance, claiming that Washington's European allies have relied on American security guarantees while providing insufficient support for the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing US administration officials, that the White House is considering a plan to punish certain NATO members that President Trump believes were not helpful to the US and Israel during the war with Iran.

The proposal would involve moving US troops from alliance members deemed unhelpful to the war effort against Iran and redeploying them to countries that have provided greater support. It would be a far milder measure than Trump's recent threats to withdraw the US from the alliance entirely, which he cannot do without Congress by law.

The plan, which has been discussed in recent weeks and has gained support among senior administration officials, is still in the early stages of development and is one of several that the White House is considering to punish NATO, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The United States has about 84.000 troops deployed across Europe, although the exact number varies due to military exercises and rotational deployments. U.S. bases in Europe serve as a focal point for U.S. global military operations, while also providing economic benefits to the host country through investment. Bases in Eastern Europe also serve as a deterrent to Russia.

In an interview with CNN, Rutte refused to confirm reports that Trump is considering withdrawing US troops from European countries that do not support the war.

In addition to relocating troops, the plan could also include closing a US base in at least one European country, possibly Spain or Germany, two administration officials told the American newspaper.

Among the countries that could benefit, because they are seen as allied-minded, are Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Greece, officials said. The Eastern European countries have some of the highest defense spending rates in the alliance and were among the first to signal their support for an international coalition to monitor the Strait of Hormuz. After the outbreak of war, Romania quickly approved U.S. requests to make its bases available to the U.S. Air Force.

Trump's anger, according to the Associated Press, is primarily directed at Spain and France. Spain closed its airspace to American aircraft involved in the war against Iran and refused to allow American forces to use military bases on its territory for that purpose.

After the two-week ceasefire was declared, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on the X network that his government “will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket of water.” “What is needed now is diplomacy, international law and PEACE,” he added.

France has been critical, insisting that the war was launched without respect for international law and that Paris was never consulted. No general restrictions have been imposed on the use of joint bases or its airspace, but French authorities have said they decide on a case-by-case basis.