Prime Minister Mark Carney voiced support for the latest U.S. military strikes on Iran on Wednesday, describing them as an appropriate response to Iranian ceasefire violations, as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking before the summit, Carney condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Saudi Arabian and Qatari targets, saying the United States had responded appropriately while emphasizing the need to reduce hostilities.
“Iran had been acting irresponsibly, attacking Saudi and Qatari targets particularly,” Carney said. “There has been a response, as appropriate. Obviously, we look to de-escalation of hostilities.”
The comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran was effectively over, following renewed attacks in the region. According to U.S. Central Command, American strikes targeted Iranian positions after attacks on three commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later claimed responsibility for retaliatory strikes against U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Arriving at the summit, Trump adopted a combative tone, saying he no longer wished to negotiate with Iran.
“I don’t want to deal with them anymore,” Trump told reporters, adding that, in his view, the ceasefire had ended.
Trump also renewed his criticism of NATO allies, accusing them of failing to support the United States and Israel during the conflict with Iran. He suggested he may have skipped the summit altogether if it were not being hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whom he described as a personal friend.
Expressing frustration with the alliance, Trump argued that the United States bears a disproportionate share of NATO’s defence burden while receiving insufficient support in return.
Prime Minister Carney acknowledged that allies must strengthen their defence capabilities but stressed that NATO remains fundamentally a defensive alliance. Earlier in the day, he remarked that President Trump had succeeded in pushing member states to increase defence spending, saying allies increasingly recognize the need to take greater responsibility for their own security.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to ease concerns over divisions within the alliance, acknowledging Washington’s frustration over Iran while emphasizing Europe’s significant operational support. He noted that thousands of sorties had been conducted from European bases, underscoring the continent’s military contributions.
The summit is expected to conclude with NATO leaders urging Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and reaffirming the importance of protecting freedom of navigation through
