More key US allies block military flights as Iran war rift widens with Trump

More cardinal European friends are restricting U.S. subject entree arsenic nan Trump management presses up pinch its warfare against Iran, pinch some France and Italy moving to artifact U.S.-linked craft from utilizing their airspace aliases bases.

Italy denied support for U.S. subject craft to onshore astatine nan Sigonella Air Base successful Sicily earlier heading to nan Middle East, Reuters reported Tuesday, saying Washington had not sought anterior authorization from Rome. 

France has besides refused overflight for planes carrying U.S. subject supplies to Israel, according to President Donald Trump, marking a uncommon disruption to regular subject coordination betwixt Washington and cardinal European allies.

Their refusals transportation operational weight because U.S. bases successful Europe — including those successful Italy — are "essential" for supporting Middle East operations, acting arsenic captious staging and transit hubs for subject aircraft. 

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The move marks nan latest motion of increasing clash betwixt nan United States and European friends arsenic President Donald Trump ramps up unit connected NATO partners to support operations tied to nan warfare pinch Iran.

John Hemmings, head of nan National Security Centre astatine nan Henry Jackson Society, a London-based overseas argumentation deliberation tank, told Fox News Digital nan determination reflects deeper tensions.

"The news that Italy has blocked U.S. overflight and guidelines usage for craft taking portion successful nan conflict successful Iran is nan visible motion of a transatlantic situation bubbling over," Hemmings said. "U.S. governmental and subject authority is astatine stone bottommost successful Europe. Italy’s defection is simply a worrying parameter since Italy presently has a right-leaning populist government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a known ‘Trump Whisperer,’ nan only European leader to be Trump’s inauguration."

U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shingle hands arsenic they airs for a photo, astatine a world leaders' acme connected ending nan Gaza war, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage switch and ceasefire woody betwixt Israel and Hamas, successful Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/Pool (Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/Reuters)

An Italian government connection pushed backmost connected reports of a rupture, saying: "With reference to media reports regarding nan usage of subject bases, nan authorities reiterates that Italy acts successful afloat compliance pinch existing world agreements and pinch nan argumentation guidelines group retired by nan authorities to parliament." 

"Relations pinch nan United States, successful particular, are coagulated and based connected afloat and loyal cooperation," nan connection added.

Still, Italy’s determination follows a bid of moves by European friends distancing themselves from U.S. subject actions successful Iran.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (Darko Bandic/The Associated Press )

Spain connected Monday said it had closed its airspace to U.S. planes progressive successful strikes, going further than its earlier refusal to let nan usage of jointly operated bases. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been among nan astir vocal critics of nan U.S. and Israeli campaign.

In remarks earlier parliament Tuesday, Spain’s defense curate said nan authorities had "prohibited nan usage of nan bases of Rota and Morón" and did not assistance formation authorizations "to support operations successful Iran."

The curate stressed nan determination was constricted specifically to operations linked to Iran and did not awesome a broader break pinch NATO aliases nan United States. 

"If 1 looks astatine Spain’s refusal to let U.S. overflight complete its airspace aliases U.S. bases," Hemmings said, "one could reason it’s a U.S.-Spanish issue. The premier minister, Pedro Sánchez, a socialist, has nary emotion mislaid for nan MAGA movement. But Italy’s refusal comes aft Poland’s refusal to let a U.S. Patriot anti-missile artillery to beryllium redeployed and looks for illustration nan U.S. wheels are wobbling — if not coming off."

Trump connected Tuesday escalated his disapproval of friends successful a bid of posts connected Truth Social, singling retired France, Spain, Italy and nan United Kingdom, though nan United Kingdom has continued to let U.S. craft to run from its territory, including bomber and refueling missions tied to Middle East operations.

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President Donald Trump is slated to subordinate nan World Economic Forum successful Davos, Switzerland, arsenic he threatens further tariffs connected NATO nations arsenic he useful to unafraid a woody to get Greenland.  (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

"The Country of France wouldn’t fto planes headed to Israel, loaded up pinch subject supplies, alert complete French territory," Trump wrote.

"France has been VERY UNHELPFUL pinch respect to nan ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!," he added.

A root successful nan French presidency, nan Élysée Palace, told Fox News Digital, "we are amazed by this tweet. France has not changed its position since nan first day, and we corroborate this decision, which is accordant pinch nan French position since nan opening of nan conflict."

In different station connected Tuesday, Trump criticized nan U.K. while urging friends to return action successful nan Strait of Hormuz, a captious world lipid way disrupted during nan conflict.

"All of those countries that can’t get pitchy substance because of nan Strait of Hormuz, for illustration nan United Kingdom, which refused to get progressive successful nan decapitation of Iran, I person a proposal for you," Trump wrote.

"Number 1, bargain from nan U.S., we person plenty, and Number 2, build up immoderate delayed courage, spell to nan Strait, and conscionable TAKE IT."

"You’ll person to commencement learning really to conflict for yourself, nan U.S.A. won’t beryllium location to thief you anymore, conscionable for illustration you weren’t location for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The difficult portion is done. Go get your ain oil!"

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JULY 28: U.S. President Donald Trump meets pinch British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his woman Victoria Starmer astatine Trump Turnberry play nine connected July 28, 2025 successful Turnberry, Scotland. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that connection during a property briefing Tuesday.

"There are countries astir nan world who ought to beryllium prepared to measurement up connected this captious waterway arsenic well," he said. "It’s not conscionable nan United States Navy. Last clip I checked, location was expected to beryllium a big, bad Royal Navy that could beryllium prepared to do things for illustration that arsenic well."

NATO acknowledged nan increasing strain, pointing to remarks by Secretary-General Mark Rutte from a March 26 property conference.

"What I've been seeing is immoderate vexation pinch him (Trump), astir nan Europeans needing to return clip to respond to his request, erstwhile it comes to this mobility of making judge that oversea lanes are open," Rutte said.

"There is simply a logic for that … nan U.S. was not capable to consult pinch friends because they wanted to support nan run concealed … But that besides had nan disadvantage that it takes clip for nan Europeans to get organized."

Rutte added that much than 30 countries person since joined discussions connected securing maritime routes, "exactly besides to nan petition of President Trump."

Hemmings warned nan fallout could person broader strategical consequences. 

"There is thing deeper here, though, and that is that location is simply a increasing transatlantic rift betwixt right-leaning populists and left-leaning populists. The truth is that nan U.S. and galore Western European countries are not only divided complete NATO spending and trade; they are divided ideologically."

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NATO leaders airs successful this changeable taken successful June.  (Claudia Greco/Reuters)

"This should interest planners astatine nan Pentagon and astatine NATO office successful Brussels," he said. "Despite caller changes successful U.S. unit building successful Europe, changes person been incremental and cautiously broadcast. The U.S. and Europe still request each different severely for defense-industrial cooperation, for helping bring Ukraine to victory, and for deterring their communal adversaries."

Fox News Digital besides reached retired to Italy, nan Pentagon and nan White House but did not person responses successful clip for publication.