Graham to Trump: Consider removing ‘US bases from countries who won’t let us fly from them’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Friday urged President Trump to consider removing U.S. military bases from countries “who won’t let us fly from them,” again lashing out at European allies over their refusal to assist the U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran.

Graham reupped the suggestion after Trump told reporters earlier on Friday that the senator was “right about asking that.”

“Mr. President, one of the things I like about you most is that, now, our allies take America for granted at their own peril,” the South Carolina Republican wrote in a post on social platform X.

“As to my 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,” the senator added.

Trump and Graham have slammed NATO allies in recent days for their reluctance to support U.S. military operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that has been effectively closed to shipping traffic since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28.

The continued Iranian blockade and escalating attacks on vessels and oil and gas facilities have rattled the global economy, sending fuel prices sharply higher.  

The president said last Sunday that he requested seven countries to send warships to help secure the strait, but so far none have agreed to lend military assets.

The United Kingdom recently approved the use of U.K. military bases for “defensive” strikes against Iranian missile sites that target ships in the strait. Though Trump suggested the move was “a very late response.”

Still, other NATO countries like Spain, said early on the war that they would not do the same.

“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,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said during a March 1 broadcast appearance, according to a translation from RTVE. 

Graham on Friday called 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, saying the president should consider relocating.

“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,” he wrote. “I trust your judgement.”

The senator, a staunch war hawk, has long been one of the most vocal advocates on Capitol Hill for expanded U.S. military intervention in Iran, frequently pressing Trump to take a more aggressive approach to the conflict.

He urged Trump earlier this week to “take” Kharg Island, a key export terminal in the Gulf, arguing it would cripple the weakened Iranian regime’s economy.

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