A US-founded alliance worth keeping around

Nato is again in the rhetorical cross-hairs as the Trump administration has chided some European members for not allowing American aircraft to transit through America's European bases.

- John J Metzler

Nor have the Europeans rallied to politically help the United States confront Iran's blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Washington's ire is warranted, but its reactions are unnecessary.

The high-octane rhetoric across the Atlantic is justified given the fact that some of Nato's allies, such as Spain, have not stepped up to their treaty obligation and have actually closed their airspace to American warplanes.

Earlier in the war, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer tried playing the same card, "This is not our war and we're not going to get dragged into it" he commented early on by restricting use of British bases to US aircraft which were covered by the Nato alliance.

The political fracas raises obvious questions. President Donald Trump warns that the US may leave Nato. The Europeans blink in horror, but then the smug disdain of some in their political class emerges, and they feel vindicated by confronting Washington.

Enough! The transatlantic trash talk only plays into Moscow's hands and its Ukraine game plan.