President Pavel questions NATO role in Iran conflict, warns of US exit test

Czech President Petr Pavel said that involving NATO in the conflict with Iran “does not make sense,” stressing the alliance was founded for collective defence, not external military operations. Since the United States has not been attacked and Iran is not a NATO member, such involvement would contradict the alliance’s core principles, he said. Pavel also warned that a potential US withdrawal, floated by Donald Trump, would be a major test for NATO. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka declined to comment directly, saying he would wait for the upcoming NATO summit, while expressing doubt that Washington would seek to dismantle the alliance.