‘At their own peril’: GOP Senator demands Trump close U.S. bases after ‘outrageous’ refusals spark a major rift

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is once again urging President Trump to consider pulling U.S. military bases from countries that refuse to allow American forces to fly from their soil. Both Trump and Graham have been critical of NATO allies for their hesitation to support U.S. military operations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The vital shipping lane has been closed thanks to an ongoing Iranian blockade.

Graham took to X, stating, “Mr. President, one of the things I like about you most is that, now, our allies take America for granted at their own peril. As to my [earlier] suggestion, I meant it then and I’ll repeat it now: We should consider removing U.S. bases from countries who won’t let us fly from them as we confront the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism who has been hellbent on developing a nuclear weapon and was extremely close to achieving that goal.”

Per The Hill, Trump has petitioned seven countries to send warships to help secure the strait. So far, none have agreed to lend military assets, and the Germans were even sarcastic about it. One country, the United Kingdom, did recently approve the use of its military bases for “defensive” strikes against Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the strait. However, President Trump suggested this move was “a very late response.”

I think I need a minute to recover from all that brown-nosing

Other NATO countries, like Spain, made it clear early in the war that they wouldn’t follow suit. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated, “The joint-use bases, but under Spanish sovereignty, will not be used for anything not included within the treaty nor outside the U.N. Charter.” 

Graham found Spain’s refusal to allow American aircraft stationed there to be used in the military operation “an insult and an outrage” to the longstanding alliance. “Mr. President, I think America’s interests would be well-served to move those aircraft from Spain to a country that we can actually rely on in a time of great need,” Graham wrote, adding, “I trust your judgement.”

Graham is known as a staunch war hawk, and he’s been one of the most vocal advocates on Capitol Hill for expanded U.S. military intervention in Iran. He’s frequently pressed Trump to take a more aggressive approach to the conflict. 

Earlier this week, he even urged the president to “take” Kharg Island, which is a key export terminal in the Gulf, arguing it would cripple the weakened Iranian regime’s economy. It seems he’s really serious about ensuring allies are pulling their weight when it matters most.