- France blocks airspace to military flights carrying supplies to Israel.
- Italy denies landing permission to US planes at the Sicily air base.
- Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran.
France and Italy have rejected some military operations between the United States and Israel, sources said on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies in Europe as useless in the month-long war in Iran, highlighting divisions.
The decisions were made in a context of tensions between Washington and key partners over the war. Earlier this month, Trump called former NATO allies “cowards” for their lack of support. On Tuesday he harshly criticized countries that did not assist in the attacks between the United States and Israel.
France says no
Trump accused France of blocking planes carrying military supplies to Israel from flying over its territory and wrote in Truth Social that France had been “VERY USELESS.”
The French presidency said it was surprised by the publication and said its decision was consistent with France's policy since the conflict began.
A Western diplomat and two sources familiar with the matter said Reuters Previously, the refusal, which came over the weekend, was the first time France had done this since the start of the conflict on February 28.
The sources said Israel had wanted to use French airspace to transport American weapons that would be used in the war against Iran.
Israel's Defense Ministry accused France of actively obstructing the transfer of ammunition to Israel, according to a statement.
He said the French ban was imposed despite prior coordination and assurances that the munitions were intended solely for use against Iran, adding that the effort was critical for European security.
The ministry said Israel would suspend all defense procurement from France and have no new commitments to the French military. French arms sales to Israel are relatively small and it was unclear whether the move would affect French troops serving with U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon.
Italy denies permission
Last week, Italy denied permission to US military planes to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before heading to the Middle East, sources said.
According to the Corriere della Sera The newspaper that first broke the news, “some American bombers” were due to land at the base in eastern Sicily before flying to the Middle East.
Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto later denied any break with Washington or any change in policy. He posted a message on X to say that American air bases were still active, but that Washington needed special permission for uses outside existing agreements.
Spain is the one that most opposes the war
Meanwhile, Spain defended its decision to completely close its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been one of the staunchest critics of the US and Israeli attacks and Defense Minister Margarita Robles said that Spain will only allow the use of its bases for the collective defense of NATO allies.
Trump also pointed out that Britain is not helping, just as Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla will pay a state visit to the United States at the end of April.
He wrote in Truth Social: “For all those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the UK, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: number 1, buy from the US, we have enough, and number 2, muster up some retarded courage, go to the Strait and just TAKE IT.”
The United States, France, Italy, Spain and Britain are all members of NATO, as is Germany, which hosts Ramstein, the largest American base in Europe.
Germany said at the start of the war that there were no restrictions on the United States using the base, although the issue has been debated after President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he believed the war was illegal.
