ROME — As President Donald Trump amped up criticism of NATO countries for refusing to do more in the Iran war on Tuesday, European allies were doubling down on their resistance.
Italy in recent days denied landing rights to U.S. war planes seeking to land at Sigonella base in eastern Sicily after determining their flight plans were linked to the war effort, according to a senior Italian official.
That revelation — involving a nation led by a key Trump ally, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — emerged a day after Spain said it had gone further in its direct opposition to the war, now refusing not only use of its bases, but also overflight rights to aircraft involved in the conflict, its defense minister said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, previously struggling in polls, has found a new political lease on life by leading the European resistance to the war.
Trump has expressed growing exasperation with NATO allies for not helping more, even though the alliance’s collective defense clause applies specifically to North America and Europe. On Tuesday, the president lashed out on social media.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “And Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil! President DJT”
Trump also hit at France. “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL,” he wrote.
France has allowed the use of its bases for operations such as refueling but has denied such use for aircraft involved in attacks. It was unclear if Trump was referring to a specific incident or conflating the positions of France and Spain. The Élysée did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Despite threats from the Trump administration to pull back NATO support and reassess its relationship with the alliance, European leaders are not hiding their mounting opposition to the war.
Fueled by the messy spread of the war into a regional conflict that is weighing on economic growth, dragging down stock markets, driving inflation and energy shortages, criticism of Washington is growing more pronounced. Officials normally supportive of the White House, like NATO chief Mark Rutte — who famously called Trump “Daddy” — are being drowned out by a chorus of growing concern.
“In the spectrum that ranges from Rutte to Sánchez, the core is definitely shifting towards the latter. From Daddy to Baddie,” said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute for International Affairs.
Four weeks ago, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was downplaying criticism of the U.S.-Israeli offensive. On Friday, he told the FAZ newspaper: “I’m just not convinced that what’s happening right now — what Israel and America are doing — will actually lead to success.”
In Italy, the war has created a mounting headache for Meloni, whose relationship with Trump has come under a microscope amid an unpopular war. Meloni’s previously impenetrable political armor was pierced after Italian voters on March 22 rejected a referendum on judicial changes that was seen as a bellwether of her popularity. Her administration has sought to put distance between her and Trump.
“This story of her closeness to Trump, used to delegitimize the government, I don’t know if it’s more ridiculous or more specious, bordering on insulting,” Guido Crosetto, Meloni’s defense minister, told La Repubblica on Monday. “Trump is the president of a nation, elected by an overwhelming majority, and he goes his own way without listening to anyone but himself. We go our own way without subservience.”
Italy refused landing rights to U.S. military aircraft that were in flight when permission was requested, said the Italian official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information. The fact that the aircraft were aloft left no time to consult with parliament — something Meloni has pledged to do before allowing bases in Italy to be used as a staging ground for the war. The incident was first reported by the Corriere della Sera newspaper and by Italy’s ANSA news agency.
In a statement Tuesday, Meloni’s office did not confirm the incident, but said: “Each request is carefully examined on a case-by-case basis, as has always been the case in the past. No critical issues or frictions with international partners have been reported. Relations with the United States, in particular, are solid and based on full and loyal cooperation.”
Vincenzo Camporini, former chief of staff of the air force and defense and now scientific adviser to the Institute for International Affairs, said Washington should not be surprised that allies are hesitating to cooperate given the lack of consultation ahead of the war.
“I believe that this has to do with the fact that this operation was launched without any consultation, without any consideration about the need to at least inform the allied countries,” Camporini said. “You cannot do like something like that and then request very, very abjectly the support of the nations. I think this is something which should be considered by Washington.”
Trump, for days, has directed complaints and veiled threats at NATO, as European leaders rebuff his calls to get further involved in a U.S. war of choice he unleashed without informing them. On Tuesday, he lashed out again.
The Trump administration, which has tasked European partners at NATO with arming Kyiv and taking charge of Europe’s defenses, is now pressing them to deploy warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for global oil supply that has been largely blocked by Iranian counterattacks.
Several European leaders including in France, Britain and the Netherlands say their navies would help reopen the waterway and escort tankers if the fighting abates, but not while missiles are flying. The Europeans have settled on a joint refrain that seems to be drawing Trump’s ire: “This is not our war.”
Beatriz Ríos in Brussels contributed to this report.
The post Trump slams allies after Italy blocks U.S. use of air base for Iran war appeared first on Washington Post.
