President Donald Trump has not yet decided how to respond to NATO allies denying the US military the use of their bases during its war on Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday.

Trump has threatened to withdraw troops from Italy and Spain after both countries opposed the conflict, with Madrid refusing use of its bases entirely.

What did Rubio say about allies denying the US military base access?

Rubio said Trump has not made any decision on how to respond to allies blocking US military access. He framed it as a fundamental problem for NATO, warning that if European bases can no longer be used to project American force into other regions, the rationale for keeping US troops in Europe must be reassessed.

Did Rubio threaten to pull the US out of NATO?

Speaking to reporters in Rome, Rubio stopped short of announcing a NATO withdrawal but raised the question directly. “If one of the main reasons why the US is in NATO is the ability to have forces deployed in Europe that we could project to other contingencies, and now that’s no longer the case, at least when it comes to some NATO members, that’s a problem, and it has to be examined,” he said.

He added that any such decision rests with the president, who has not yet acted.

Why did Italy and Spain refuse US military base access?

Both countries opposed the US war on Iran and declined to facilitate combat operations from their territory. Italy refused authorization for US aircraft on combat missions to land at its Sigonella base, according to a defense ministry source and Italian media reports on Tuesday.

Under existing agreements, some Italian bases may be used by US aircraft, but only for logistical purposes, not combat.

What is Trump’s broader position on US troop deployments in Europe?

Rubio confirmed that a withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany was already planned before the current dispute and described it as a return to 2022 troop levels.

He said US military deployments worldwide are constantly reviewed against national interest. “We have global obligations all over the world,” he said, adding that American resources, while vast, are not unlimited.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut troop numbers across Europe during both his presidential terms, arguing that European nations must take greater responsibility for their own defense.

He now appears determined to hold accountable those allies who have neither backed the US in the Middle East nor agreed to contribute to a peacekeeping force in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iranian forces have effectively closed.