NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has publicly backed the latest United States strikes on Iran, describing them as “absolutely necessary.” His position comes at a time when the official US version of the escalation is being used as the basis to justify the military strikes, and when tensions in the Middle East remain high.
Rutte aligns with Washington’s line
Speaking from the two-day NATO summit in Ankara, Rutte was asked about the US military operation that, according to Washington, struck more than 80 targets in Iran.
The NATO chief said the intervention was “absolutely necessary,” arguing that, according to the version he presented, Iran had violated the ceasefire.
The argument given: attacks on ships
According to Rutte’s statement, the US response was linked to what he described as Iran’s practical violation of the ceasefire, in particular through attacks on ships.
“I think it was absolutely necessary, because when you have a ceasefire and Iran practically violates it, as we saw with the attacks on ships, it is important for the United States to respond with force,” he said.
The Ankara summit against the backdrop of the crisis
The statement was made during the NATO summit in Ankara, attended by leaders of member states, including US President Donald Trump.
In this climate, the comments by the head of the alliance carry additional political weight, as they go beyond a diplomatic response and provide open support for a military operation already justified by Washington on security grounds.
New escalation between the US and Iran
Tensions between the US and Iran have risen sharply following attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and the US military response.
Rutte’s statement is expected to intensify debate over the latest developments in the Middle East, as NATO leaders continue discussions on regional security and global challenges.
The support offered by the NATO chief politically strengthens the US narrative for the intervention, but without bringing any new elements beyond the official version presented so far.
For that reason, the statements from the Ankara summit are expected to be read not only as a security position, but also as a political signal in a crisis that is rapidly expanding.