Hegseth criticized NATO allies for hesitating against Iran’s military strikes

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Washington has warned that some traditional US allies are “hemming and hinging on the use of force” as it pushes ahead with its campaign against Iran, raising fresh questions about NATO cohesion at a moment of escalation.

Spain has denied the US permission to use some bases to launch attacks on Iran, calling for de-escalation and compliance with international law. Turkey has criticized the operation and warned of wider regional instability, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was “saddened” by the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and denied that Turkish territory was used in the operation.

“The outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran has serious implications for international peace and security,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement issued on Saturday. He added, “The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop.”

During Monday’s media briefing, Hegseth drew a sharp contrast between Israel and what he described as a reluctant ally. “Israel also has clear missions, for which we are grateful. Capable partners, as we have said from the beginning. Capable partners are good partners, like many of our traditional allies, who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, use force and hem and haw.”

U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speak to reporters following U.S. military operations in Venezuela at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida on January 3, 2026. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

The criticism reflects growing frustration in the administration that while some European capitals have issued statements of support, operational support has not matched the rhetoric.

President Donald Trump He also expressed dissatisfaction with the hesitancy of the Allies. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Trump said he was “very disappointed” that British Prime Minister Keir Starr initially blocked US use of British bases and that it took “a long time” for Starmer to reverse course.

then the United Kingdom Official US use of key facilitiesincluding Diego Garcia, after initial legal objections and a drone attack on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starr pose for a family photo with leaders of NATO countries during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit of Heads of State and Government on June 25, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Reuters via Ben Stansall/Pool)

Justin Fulcher, a former senior advisor to Hegseth, told Fox News Digital that the moment was “a very critical inflection point where NATO should take action In a united way in support of what the United States is doing.”

He raised a bigger issue than the current campaign. “Symbolically, the US-NATO alliance is critical in restoring deterrence globally,” Fulcher said, adding that visible unity would send a message not only to Tehran but to other geopolitical rivals about how the alliance responds under pressure.

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President Donald Trump speaks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a group photo of NATO heads of state and government at the NATO summit, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngart)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Attempts have been made to minimize partitioning instructions.

“I spoke to all the major European leaders over the weekend,” Rutte said on Fox News. “There is broad support for what the president is doing.”

“Europe is moving forward, doing what is necessary to move this operation forward and deliver all the necessary enablements,” he added.

Germany has struck a more cautious tone. Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Sunday that the attack would risk an Iraq- or Afghanistan-style quagmire, with Europe suffering the consequences.

At the same time, he said Berlin would not “lecture” the U.S. “We recognize the dilemma,” adding that repeated attempts over the past decades had not deterred Iran from trying to acquire nuclear weapons or oppressing its own people. “So we will not lecture our partners about their military strikes on Iran.”

“Despite all doubts, we share many of their goals,” he said.

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Smoke rises after an explosion in Tehran during ongoing US and Israeli military strikes on March 2, 2026. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Fulcher compared the current hesitancy to tensions around Greenland with strong reactions from some NATO capitals during past alliance disputes.

“When you look at Greenland, it was a very sensitive issue for some countries in the alliance,” Fulcher said. “Iran has been a A major promoter and funder of terrorism “Attacks around the world — in Europe, in many NATO and European countries,” he said. “It’s very shocking to me that we’re seeing a difficult time for many NATO members to be fully united in support of the US and what the US and Israel are doing in Iran.”

He argues that Europe has a significant strategic incentive to see Iran’s capabilities diminish.

“I think Europe and NATO will benefit the most from neutralizing the threat from Iran,” Fulcher said. “When you look at whether it’s a ballistic missile threat or some state-sponsored terrorism threats, in some cases Europe’s got far more of those threats than the United States.”

He stressed that support must go beyond public support.

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NATO leaders pose in this shot taken in June. Military leaders are meeting in Washington on Tuesday evening to discuss security options for Ukraine. (REUTERS/Claudia Greco)

“Some of our European allies could do a lot to back up not just words, which should be the minimum here, but actual tangible action,” Fulcher concluded.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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