Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark told Newsmax on Tuesday that despite some hiccups, NATO member countries will end up fully supporting President Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran.
Clark told "American Agenda" that Trump "will get them on [his] side as this operation goes forward. If it's successful, they'll come to his side. They know they need to."
The United Kingdom and Spain both balked at allowing U.S. military planes access to airports. The U.K. later reversed that decision.
Clark said it was not an unexpected turn of events.
"We've had a difficult relationship with Europe under President Trump's administration," he said. "And even going back as far ... as 2011, when we pivoted to Asia, we basically told Europe they weren't as important."
The spat over airport access, said Clark, points out an important element of U.S. foreign relations.
"I think what you see in this operation is Europe is important to the United States. Every one of these countries," he said.
Clark offered that all NATO member countries will eventually side with Trump against Iran.
"And they should be coming to us and supporting us in every single way because they need us just like we need them," he said. "The key to American security in the 21st century remains an ironclad, strong relationship through NATO with Europe."
Clark added there's work to do shoring up relations with NATO countries. "We've got to pull NATO together," he said. "They've got to do more for themselves. But we can't afford a separation."
Clark said there should be no disputes between NATO countries.
"We need no gap between the United States and NATO. And that includes not ... only in the Middle East, but also on Ukraine," he said.
The U.S. closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Tuesday as Iran escalated retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, targeting U.S. diplomatic and military facilities in the region.
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Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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