Europeans aren’t prepared for what it means to align with Iran, Russia

Western European NATO allies like France, Spain, and the United Kingdom have stood out in the Iran conflict — not for their support for the U.S. effort to prevent a nuclear Iran, but through apparent eagerness to side with America’s adversaries.

The United Kingdom initially refused American use of its bases, later granting limited access with heavy stipulations. More than a month into the conflict, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has repeatedly declared, “This is not our war,” while slow-walking deployment of British warships — even those needed to protect British assets in heavily targeted Bahrain.

France denied its airspace to U.S. forces during a humanitarian mission to recover a downed pilot who faced near-certain capture and torture by a regime notorious for human rights abuses. The mission succeeded thanks to close cooperation with Israel, America’s strongest ally. France also struck a deal with Tehran to let French ships safely through the Strait of Hormuz — blatantly siding with the Iranian regime and potentially sustaining its finances while the U.S. confronts it.

Spain, meanwhile, has outspokenly condemned the U.S. operation and denied U.S. use of even its airspace let alone the American-funded bases on its territory for Iran-related operations. Spain remains one of the few NATO members yet to meet President Trump’s defense spending targets.

For decades, Western Europe has relied on the U.S. security umbrella without paying its fair share for national defense or NATO. American spending and U.S.-funded bases across the continent enabled Europe to prioritize generous social welfare programs and climate initiatives. Under President Trump, this longstanding imbalance reached a breaking point, with........

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