Kurt Volker calls to ‘stop rhetoric’ on potential NATO exit amid conflict with Iran
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, addresses the critical search for a missing airman after a U.S. F-15E fighter jet was downed over Iran. Volker cautions against Iran using the service member as a hostage for propaganda. He also criticizes President Donald Trump’s suggestions to re-evaluate NATO, stressing the alliance’s mutual benefits and importance for European security, recalling its support after 9/11.
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Former U.S. Amb. to NATO Kurt Volker warned the United States and its allies must “stop the sniping” and come together to end the conflict with Iran during a Saturday interview on Fox News.
Volker appeared on “Fox News Live” to discuss the Trump administration’s comments about reevaluating its relationship with NATO.
“I think this is completely wrong,” Volker told Fox News anchor Aishah Hasnie of the friction with NATO.
“We did not inform allies. We did not consult with allies. We did not set up a clear goal, a common operation. We didn’t ask them. So, this went off the rails from the very beginning.”
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President Donald Trump looked on during a NATO summit of heads of state and government on June 25, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands. (Piroschka Van De Wouw/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Operation Epic Fury has strained some relationships between the United States and its allies. Spain and other allies have denied the use of jointly operated bases for these operations. The United Kingdom also granted limited use of its bases for strict defensive purposes.
Volker argued that both sides need to pause before making any major decisions.
“We both need to take a breath, realize that NATO has a very important purpose, which is peace in Europe,” Volker said.
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“We need to stop the rhetoric, talk to each other and come up with a way forward on actually opening up the Persian Gulf and ending the war with Iran and restoring security in Europe,” he added.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio takes part in a meeting between President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where President Trump announces a deal to send U.S. weapons to Ukraine through NATO, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo (Nathan Howard/Reuters)
President Donald Trump has signaled the White House might be rethinking its relationship with some European allies in the wake of the conflict.
He spoke to The Telegraph in an article published Wednesday, saying, “Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”
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Trump is expected to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte next week for a planned visit. Volker said he believes he and Trump will have a better discussion about U.S. goals in Iran.
President Donald Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House on July 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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“I think with Rutte behind closed doors with President Trump, we have to talk about what’s the way forward,” Volker said. “What is the goal here now with Iran? Is it regime change or is it negotiating with the regime?”
“We’ve got to put together a viable plan, and work together on that and stop the sniping,” he added.
