U.S. Secretary of State to Meet NATO Ministers on Iran War and Troop Plans

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet NATO foreign ministers on Friday in the Swedish town of Helsingborg. The gathering comes after President Donald Trump questioned NATO commitments and announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Europe. S.

to use bases on their territory for the war. He singled out Spain, telling reporters in Miami that countries denying base access raised questions about their NATO membership.

European ministers are expected to stress their readiness to help with freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when conditions permit. Iran has restricted traffic through the strait during the war. S. did not ask the 32-member alliance to take part in the Iran war. S. forces to use their airspace and bases.

U.S. officials first said the troops would be withdrawn from Germany but later said they would delay the deployment of a brigade to Poland. The United States has also said a planned deployment of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany will no longer go ahead. S.

Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, said this week that further drawdowns would stretch over years to give allies time to develop replacement capabilities. S. to reduce its presence in Europe and limit itself to providing only those critical capabilities that allies cannot yet provide," he told reporters at NATO headquarters on Tuesday.