A NATO spokesperson described the trip as “long-planned,” with a White House official also confirming the visit, though no further details were disclosed.

The timing comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and its European partners over their limited support for U.S. actions in the Iran conflict.

Trump said he was weighing a U.S. exit from NATO after European members declined to contribute naval forces to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane disrupted during the war.

Speaking at a White House gathering, Trump criticized allies including France and the United Kingdom, describing NATO as ineffective and questioning its value to U.S. security interests. The visit by Rutte comes at a sensitive moment for the alliance, which has long been a cornerstone of transatlantic security since its founding in 1949.

Analysts say the rhetoric underscores deepening divisions within NATO over burden-sharing and strategic priorities, particularly in the context of the ongoing Iran war.

Trump’s remarks mark one of the most direct challenges to NATO’s cohesion in recent years, raising uncertainty about the future of U.S. commitment to the alliance as geopolitical tensions intensify.

During his stay in Japan, Macron signed a cooperation roadmap covering critical minerals and defense, and held talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, alongside a meeting with the imperial couple.

He also praised Europe’s “predictability,” in comments widely interpreted as a contrast with recent U.S. policy decisions.The remarks followed criticism from Trump, who described France as “very unhelpful” in the Iran conflict and made personal jibes at Macron.

The exchange highlights growing transatlantic friction as the war continues to reshape global alliances.Macron’s visit to South Korea comes amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, particularly linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.

The waterway’s effective closure has driven up oil prices and strained import-dependent economies across Asia.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for deeper cooperation with France in an opinion article, emphasizing collaboration in artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, hydrogen technologies and space.

“In an increasingly fragmented and uncertain international environment, partnerships between democratic nations are becoming strategically essential,” Lee wrote.

Seoul has already introduced a fuel price cap to cushion the economic impact of rising energy costs, marking its first such intervention since 1997.Macron’s itinerary in South Korea includes a bilateral summit with Lee, participation in an economic forum, and a visit to a Korean War memorial honoring French troops.

The trip also features cultural engagements, including a dinner with figures from the country’s film and music industries.

The visit underscores France’s effort to deepen ties in the Indo-Pacific while navigating diplomatic strains with Washington over the direction and handling of the Iran conflict.

In an interview published Monday, Trump said the United States was in talks with Qalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guard commander. Qalibaf denied the assertion in a statement, saying Washington was “promoting desires as news while threatening our nation at the same time.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also dismissed the claim. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said no negotiations had taken place, though he confirmed that intermediaries had conveyed proposals to Tehran.

Baghaei said Iran would not overlook what he described as past breaches of diplomacy, referring to indirect talks in 2025 and early 2026 that were followed by military action involving the United States and Israel.

War pressure shapes diplomacy claimsThe exchange comes as Trump has increased pressure on Tehran to reach an agreement to end the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth week following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes launched in late February.

Trump warned that failure to reach a deal “shortly” could result in widespread destruction of Iran’s energy infrastructure and critical facilities, including desalination plants.

Qalibaf’s role under scrutinyQalibaf, long viewed as a pragmatic conservative within Iran’s political system, has previously been mentioned as a potential interlocutor for Western governments.

However, questions remain about his authority within Iran’s complex power structure following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a February airstrike.His successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, is believed to maintain ties with Qalibaf, though competing centers of power within Iran’s leadership continue to shape decision-making.

Analysts say references to Qalibaf as a negotiating channel may reflect both external pressure tactics and internal political maneuvering, as Tehran navigates wartime conditions and diplomatic isolation.

The channel broadcast a 10-minute segment of the pre-recorded interview during its Thursday evening news, while publishing the full hour-long exchange online.

Ukraine’s ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, questioned the decision on social media, asking why a “war criminal” had been given airtime.

Researcher Etienne Marcuz described the interview as “disgraceful,” saying a senior official from an opposing power had been allowed to present his narrative without sufficient challenge.

Russia specialist Dimitri Minic called the broadcast “catastrophic,” warning that Moscow treats information as a central instrument in its confrontation with Western states.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he regretted that Lavrov had been able to “calmly roll out his propaganda,” rejecting claims made during the interview that Russia was upholding international law.

“No, Russia is not defending international law not in Iran, nor in Ukraine, nor anywhere else,” Barrot said, citing incidents including civilian killings in Bucha and the destruction of Mariupol in 2022.

During the broadcast, Lavrov defended Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, asserting that Russian forces did not target civilians and framing Russia’s actions as consistent with international law.

He also criticized U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, saying they violated international norms.Presenter Lea Salame noted during the exchange that French journalists had documented civilian casualties in Ukraine.

The controversy comes as diplomatic efforts led by the United States to resolve the conflict in Ukraine have been complicated by escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Ali Mousavi, Iran’s representative to the United Nations’ maritime agency, made the remarks in an interview published on Friday by China’s Xinhua news agency, prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that Iranian power infrastructure could be targeted if the strategic waterway was not kept “fully open” within 48 hours.

Mousavi, who also serves as Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, said ships not associated with Iran’s adversaries would be permitted to transit the strait, provided they coordinate security and safety arrangements with Tehran.

He added that Iran would continue working with the International Maritime Organization to ensure maritime safety and the protection of seafarers in the Gulf region.The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between Iran and Oman, handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

Concerns over potential Iranian attacks during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign have already deterred many vessels from using the route, raising the risk of disruptions to global energy supplies.

Mousavi said diplomacy remained Tehran’s priority but emphasized that a “complete cessation of aggression” and the restoration of mutual trust were essential. He attributed the current situation in the strait to what he described as Israeli and U.S. attacks against Iran.

Trump’s earlier warning has heightened fears of further escalation in the region, with shipping security and energy market stability closely tied to developments in the waterway.

QatarEnergy said its emergency teams contained fires at Ras Laffan, the centre of the country’s liquefied natural gas operations, with authorities reporting no casualties.

The facility, located about 80 km north of Doha, is a key global energy hub processing a significant share of the world’s LNG supply.

QatarEnergy said several LNG facilities were hit in early Thursday strikes, causing “sizeable fires” and further structural damage. The Pearl gas-to-liquids plant, one of the world’s largest of its kind, suffered extensive damage, the company added.

International energy firms operating in Ras Laffan began assessing the impact. Shell, which holds stakes in multiple LNG projects at the site, said it was evaluating potential disruptions to its assets.

Qatar produces around 77 million metric tons of LNG annually, making it the world’s second-largest exporter, and Ras Laffan plays a central role in processing and export operations.

The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted incoming missiles and temporarily shut gas facilities as a precautionary measure. Authorities reported no injuries.

The attacks followed Iranian evacuation warnings for energy installations across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, issued after strikes on Iran’s own infrastructure, including the South Pars and Asaluyeh energy complexes.

Qatar condemned the strike as a threat to national security and ordered Iranian diplomatic staff linked to defence and security to leave the country within 24 hours, declaring them persona non grata.

Trump, responding on social media, warned Iran against further targeting Qatari LNG infrastructure and said the United States would respond forcefully if such attacks were repeated. He added that Israel’s earlier strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field had occurred without prior notification to Washington or Doha.

The escalation marks a widening of the conflict into critical Gulf energy infrastructure, raising concerns over sustained disruptions to global gas supplies and heightened geopolitical risk across the region.