President Donald Trump’s frustration with NATO has reached a new peak. The latest rift within the alliance stems from the European response to the U.S. operation in Iran. This response saw Spain deny Washington access to key military bases and block U.S. military aircraft from using its airspace. France restricted overflight rights for military logistics tied to the conflict. Italy denied U.S. military aircraft bound for the Middle East permission to land at a base in Sicily. America’s closest ally, the United Kingdom, also restricted base usage and imposed conditions on missions launched from those bases.

For European leaders, these refusals are a domestic winner: the Iran war is deeply unpopular across the continent, and standing up to Washington plays well with voters. It should also be noted that Trump did not seek help from these allies before launching the war in late February. Yes, Trump’s complaint that European allies have freeloaded on American security guarantees has merit. But the United States has also oscillated between demanding greater burden sharing and resisting European strategic autonomy, leading to complaints on the continent.