Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)2026-04-09T12:10:13Z BRUSSELS (AP) NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has weathered a fresh ordeal with President Donald Trump, this time over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, a conflict that does not even involve the worlds biggest military alliance and one it was never consulted about.Since launching the war, Trump has derided U.S. allies as cowards, slammed NATO as a paper tiger and compared U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Neville Chamberlain, who is probably best remembered for a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany.That comes on top of Trumps repeated threats to seize control of Greenland, which have deeply strained relations with U.S. allies in NATO and raised fears that doing by force could spell the end of the organization.In recent days, the man who is as good as chairman of the NATO board suggested that the U.S. might leave the trans-Atlantic alliance. Trump already threatened to walk out in 2018 during his first term. His complaint now is that some allies ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade waterway. After talks with Rutte on Wednesday, the alliances most powerful leader took to social media to show his annoyance. NATO WASNT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WONT BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN, Trump posted.Peppered with questions later on CNN about whether Trump intended to take America out of NATO, Rutte said: He is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can see his point. Keeping America inRutte has earned a reputation as a Trump whisperer, notably helping to draw up a plan that has seen European allies and Canada buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine, and keep the administration involved in Europes biggest war in decades.Indeed, one of his most demanding tasks since taking office in 2024 has been to keep the mercurial U.S. leader engaged in NATO, particularly as America has set its sights on security challenges elsewhere, in the Indo-Pacific, Venezuela, and most recently Iran.Rutte has used flattery, praising Trump for forcing allies to spend more on defense. He has congratulated the U.S. leader over the war and refrained from criticizing Trumps warning that a whole civilization will die should Iran not reopen the strait. Read More This was a very frank, very open discussion but also a discussion between two good friends, Rutte told CNN. He declined to confirm reports that Trump is considering moving U.S. troops out of European countries that do not support the war.Asked whether the world is safer thanks to the U.S.-Israel war, Rutte said: Absolutely. War launched by a NATO member, not at oneThe striking thing about the war on Iran is that NATO has no role to play there. As a defensive alliance it has protected ally Turkey when Iranian missiles were fired in retaliation at its territory, but the war was launched by a NATO member, not at one.Rutte himself has said that NATO would not join the war, and there is no public confirmation that the U.S. had even raised the issue at the organizations Brussels headquarters, although it cannot be ruled out that the administration made a request on Wednesday for that to happen.NATO declined to say whether security for the strait has been officially discussed and referred questions to the United Kingdom, which is leading an effort outside the alliance to make the trade route safe for shipping once the ceasefire is working. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Thursday that his country is always ready to consider providing support through NATO to partners who request it there. If the U.S. or any other NATO ally is asking (for) our support, we are always read to discuss it, he told broadcaster CNBC. But for that, we need of course the official ask to discuss then what is the mission, what is the goal?If allies need our support, then we need to plan together, he said. NATO trying to stay outRutte himself insists that the alliance will only defend itself, and not become involved in another conflict outside of NATO territory, which is considered to be much of Europe and North America.This is Iran, this is the Gulf, this is outside NATO territory, he said.NATO has operated outside of the Euro-Atlantic area in the past, notably in Libya and Afghanistan. But there is no appetite to do so again given its chaotic U.S.-led exit from Afghanistan in 2021, which former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg described as a defeat.Trumps ire seems most directed at Spain and France, rather than NATO itself. Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the Iran war and has refused U.S. forces the use of jointly operated military bases.After the two-week ceasefire was announced, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez posted on X that his government will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.Whats needed now: diplomacy, international legality, and PEACE, he added. France has been critical, insisting that the war was launched without respecting international law and that Paris was never consulted about it. No blanket restrictions were placed on the use of joint bases or its airspace, but French authorities have said theyre making such decisions on a case by case basis.