Rubio Flies to France to Sell Skeptical G7 Allies on Iran War as Europe Demands Exit Strategy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio flew to Caen, France on Friday for a G7 foreign ministers meeting where he faced pointed questions from America's closest allies about the Trump administration's strategy in Iran, including whether Washington has a coherent exit plan from a conflict now in its fourth week. European governments, largely kept in the dark before the February 28 strikes began, have grown increasingly vocal in their concerns — and Rubio arrived with a blunt message: if you want the Strait of Hormuz reopened, step up and help.

"I'm not there to make them happy," Rubio told reporters before departing Washington. "The people I'm interested in making happy are the people of the United States. That's who I work for." The secretary argued that because very little U.S. energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz compared to supplies destined for Europe and Asia, allied nations have at least as much stake in the conflict's outcome as Washington does. He urged G7 partners to take more concrete steps — including naval contributions to protect shipping — rather than limiting themselves to diplomatic statements calling for de-escalation.

The reception in France was cool. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said bluntly that Washington had "no exit strategy," a comment that reflected quiet frustration among European capitals about the pace of escalation and the lack of allied consultation. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that "it can only be a diplomatic solution" and urged all parties to "sit down and negotiate." British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper struck a slightly different tone, acknowledging the importance of preventing Iran from "holding the global economy hostage" while calling for a partnership that included robust diplomacy alongside any military pressure.

The G7 gathering in Caen also addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the situation has stabilized into a grinding stalemate following last year's contested ceasefire negotiations. But the Iran conflict dominated discussions and exposed fresh transatlantic strains. Trump had previously mocked European leaders' reluctance to join the military campaign, calling them "freeloaders" in a Truth Social post that provoked formal protests from Paris and Berlin. Rubio's visit was partly aimed at papering over those public insults while securing at least rhetorical endorsements for the U.S. position from allies who are deeply reluctant to be drawn into another Middle Eastern war.

For Rubio personally, the G7 trip represents a high-wire diplomatic act. Domestically, he must keep hawkish Republican senators satisfied that the war effort has clear objectives and a plausible path to success. Internationally, he must manage allies who are watching oil prices climb above $107 per barrel and grappling with energy supply disruptions in Southeast Asia, India, and parts of Africa most dependent on Persian Gulf crude. With the next U.S. strike deadline for Iranian power plants set for April 6 and the Pentagon weighing the deployment of up to 10,000 additional ground troops, Rubio's window to build a durable international coalition is narrowing fast.