Rome, May 8 (SANA) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that President Donald Trump has not yet decided how to respond after some allies declined to allow US forces to use their bases for operations against Iran.
According to AFP, Rubio told reporters during a visit to Rome that if one of the main reasons for the United States’ presence in NATO is the ability to deploy forces in Europe for emergencies, then restrictions by some members represent an issue that needs to be addressed.
He added that the final decision rests with the president, who has not taken a position on the matter.
Rubio said the planned withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany had been scheduled in advance and reflects a return to 2022 levels.
He noted that the United States maintains global commitments and deployments that continue to evolve, adding that resources, including military ones, must be allocated in line with national interests.
He added that recent developments among some NATO members and their positions toward the United States would be taken into account, but no decision has been made so far.
Italy recently refused to allow some US aircraft heading to the Middle East on combat missions to land at the Sigonella base in eastern Sicily, according to Italian defense sources and media reports, while Spain also declined similar requests. Under existing agreements, US military aircraft may use certain Italian bases for logistical purposes only.
Trump has previously indicated the possibility of reducing US troop levels in Germany and other allied European countries, calling for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defense.
M.Q.R
