European nations have "gotten the message" from US President Donald Trump and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are being implemented, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday.
Trump has accused some NATO nations of not doing enough to support the United States in the Iran war. In a further sign of his discontent with European allies, the US announced on Friday plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said that "the timing of the US announcement of a planned drawdown of 5,000 Troops from Germany came as a surprise."
"The planned drawdown of 5,000 US Troops from Germany shows we need to strengthen the European pillar in NATO and we really have to do more," she added. "American troops are not in Europe only for protecting the European interests, but also the American interests."
"Yes, there has been some disappointment from the US side, but Europeans have listened," Rutte told reporters at a European Political Community summit in Armenia.
"They are now making sure that all the bilateral basing agreements are being implemented," he said.
NATO member Spain has said that military bases on its territory cannot be used for the war with Iran. But Rutte said other NATO countries such as Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Britain, France and Germany were implementing requests for the use of bases and other logistical support.
Rutte also said "more and more" European nations were pre-positioning assets such as minehunters and minesweepers close to the Gulf to be ready for a "next phase".
Multiple European nations have said they are willing to take part in a mission to help ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz once the war is over.
Pentagon email floats 'punishing' NATO allies over Iran war conduct
Two weeks ago, a US official told Reuters of an internal Pentagon email which outlined options for the United States to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support US operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the US position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands.
The policy options are detailed in a note expressing frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight right, known as ABO, for the Iran war, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the email.
The email stated that ABO is "just the absolute baseline for NATO," according to the official, who added that the options were circulating at high levels in the Pentagon.
One option in the email envisions suspending "difficult" countries from important or prestigious positions at NATO, the official said.
