Radio National Breakfast Director of US National Counterterrorism Center resigns over Iran war
Mar 17, 2026
Nathalie Tocci, director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali and former EU adviser, discusses fallout from a US counterterrorism chief's resignation over the Iran war. She examines Trump's pressure on European naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz. She explores a widening trust gap in transatlantic ties, Europe's need to rearm, and how Russia may benefit from US unpredictability.
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Intelligence Staff Oppose Iran War Decision
- Joe Kent's resignation signals internal US intelligence dissent over the war in Iran and that officials believe escalation will increase insecurity.
- Nathalie Tocci highlights intelligence showing no plausible peaceful outcome and frustration with political leadership ignoring it.
Trump's Threats Toward Europe Are Recurrent And Mixed
- Trump has repeatedly threatened European states over refusal to support US actions, but many threats have been inconsistent or partly acted upon.
- Tocci points to examples like Spain refusing bases and threats of trade embargoes and Greenland remarks.
Transatlantic Trust Has Suffered A Structural Break
- Tocci says the transatlantic relationship has suffered a structural breach of trust that won't easily revert to the past.
- She warns Europe now contemplates an America that could abandon or even threaten it, altering security architecture.