VIENNA, Austria: Austria has denied requests from the United States to use its airspace for military operations related to the Iran conflict, citing its longstanding neutrality policy, the defence ministry said on Thursday.
A defence ministry spokesperson, Austrian public broadcaster ORF, said that Vienna had rejected multiple requests from Washington since the start of the conflict, in line with its legal obligations.
“There have indeed been requests and they were refused from the outset,” said Colonel Michael Bauer as quoted by AFP news agency.
The spokesperson said that any request involving a country at war is routinely declined.
Austria has maintained military neutrality since 1955.
The country is surrounded by NATO member states to the north, south and east, while neighbouring Switzerland also adheres to neutrality.
Officials said Austria has not imposed a blanket ban on overflights but is reviewing requests on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the foreign ministry.
A spokesperson confirmed to Austrian public broadcaster ORF that there had been “several” US requests, without specifying the number.
Switzerland earlier took a similar position, announcing in mid-March that it had refused requests to allow its airspace to be used, also citing neutrality.
European allies push back
The decision comes amid growing reluctance among European allies to support US military logistics linked to the Iran war.
Spain has closed its airspace to flights associated with the war, while Italy declined requests from US aircraft to land at a base in Sicily.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid would block any US flights connected to the conflict, stressing that Spain “should not do anything that could escalate” tensions.
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed concern over criticism from Washington, describing it as “very unhelpful”.
US criticism and NATO tensions
US President Donald Trump has criticised European allies, including France and Spain, for refusing to allow their airspace to be used for military operations.
Trump went further on Wednesday, describing NATO as a “paper tiger” and suggesting the United States could reconsider its membership in the alliance.
“I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger,” Trump said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington may need to “re-examine” its relationship with NATO after the conflict.
Macron responded by warning that such remarks risk undermining the alliance, saying repeated doubts over US commitment could weaken NATO’s cohesion.
