European Leaders Challenge NATO Solidarity Over US Iran Policy

European defiance against American demands has intensified, questioning whether NATO functions as an alliance of equals or serves primarily to advance a single nation's agenda. US President Donald Trump criticized certain NATO members as "very bad allies" on Wednesday, threatening that Washington might withdraw from the transatlantic pact unless allies align with his administration's Iran policy. In response, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned potential military action against Iran as both unjustifiable under international law and a reckless escalation, warning that responding to one illegality with another could lead to major humanitarian disasters. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit the United States soon in an effort to stabilize the alliance. These developments indicate that European patience has reached its limit, challenging the assumption that NATO solidarity automatically extends to every American military campaign.