Marco Rubio backs Nato in visit to Italy after Donald Trump considers pulling troops across Europe

Marco Rubio has backed Nato after Donald Trump considered pulling troops from Italy and Spain.

The US Secretary of State declared himself "a strong supporter of NATO" as he met with Italy's Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome to discuss the Iran war and the US's presence at military bases in Europe.

The diplomatic meeting came after the President said he would "probably" withdraw troops from Italy and Spain after he made the decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.

Responding to reporters if he planned to withdraw troops from the two countries earlier this week, Mr Trump said: "Look why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible."

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Italy last month refused to allow US aircraft to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily, with officials adding Washington had not sought prior authorisation from Rome.

And Spain previously closed its airspace to US warplanes involved in strikes on Iran.

Ms Meloni described the meeting with Mr Rubio as a "certainly frank" discussion "between two nations that both understand how necessary it is for each to defend their national interests".

Italian officials said the talks focused on issues including the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon, where Italian soldiers have been deployed.

Mr Rubio told reporters: "I’ve been a strong supporter of Nato throughout my career in the Senate and even now, and one of the advantages of being in Nato is that it allows us to have forces deployed in Europe and bases that allow us a logistical ability to project power in case of contingencies."

But he said Nato members states not allowing the US military to use their bases had "actually impeded the mission, not severely but had a cost and in fact, even created some unnecessary dangers".

He also said the actions of some Nato member states was a "problem" which needed "to be examined", but said the decision to withdraw troops was ultimately belonged to the President.

The Secretary of State did not give full details of the pair's discussion over Iran, but said "every country" needed to evaluate Iran's claim to the Strait of Hormuz.

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He said: "The fundamental question every country, not just Italy ... needs to ask themselves is, are you going to normalise a country claiming to control an international waterway?

"Because if you normalise that, you've set a precedent that's going to get repeated in a dozen other places."

Mr Rubio also said Iran would respond to the US's peace proposal tonight, a claim which Mr Trump later repeated as he told reporters the White House would be "getting a letter supposedly tonight".

The Secretary of State also met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome, after Mr Trump described the Pontiff as "weak on crime", remarks which Ms Meloni condemned as "unacceptable".

Mr Rubio said the President will "always speak clearly about how he feels about the U.S. and U.S. policy", adding the US and the Church could have a "very productive and fruitful and important" relationship despite the remarks.

In the first meeting between the Pontiff and a Trump cabinet official in nearly a year, the Vatican said in a statement the two had "renewed the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations".

And Pope Leo, in his first address after the meeting, asked God to inspire world leaders to calm global tensions and reduce hatred.

He told worshippers God would begin "touching hearts, calming rancour and fratricidal hatreds, and enlightening those who have special responsibilities of government".

Kenneth Hackett, ambassador to the Holy See under former President Barack Obama, said the Vatican statement suggested there were "no substantive agreements" made.

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