Pentagon email raises the possibility of suspending Spain from NATO due to Iran disagreements

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded to reports that the Pentagon had considered suspending Spain from NATO by stressing that Spain is a “loyal partner” that meets its “responsibilities” within the Alliance — always, he said, “within the framework of international law.” For that reason, he added, the government feels “completely at ease.”

“We don’t base our decisions on emails; we base them on official documents and government ⁠positions, in this case of the United States. The Spanish government’s position is clear: full cooperation with our allies, but always within the framework of international law,” Sánchez replied upon his arrival at the informal summit of European leaders in Nicosia, Cyprus.

According to Reuters, there is reportedly an internal Pentagon memo outlining various options for the United States to penalize “difficult” NATO allies that do not support U.S. operations in the war against Iran. Among the options is the possibility of suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the U.S. position on the British claim to the Falkland Islands, a U.S. official told the news agency.

The message mentions frustration over the alleged reluctance or refusal of some allies to grant the United States access, use of bases, and overflight rights for the war against Iran, explained the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The message asserts that overflight rights are “the absolute baseline for NATO” and adds that these options are being weighed at the highest levels of the Pentagon.

One proposal would be to suspend “difficult” countries from key or prestigious positions within NATO. U.S. President Donald Trump has harshly criticized NATO allies for failing to send reinforcements to the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed to global maritime traffic following the start of the air war on February 28. Trump also threatened to withdraw from the Alliance.

The war between the United States and Israel against Iran has raised serious doubts about NATO’s future and unprecedented concern that the United States would not come to the aid of its European allies if they were attacked, according to analysts and diplomats.

The United Kingdom, France, and other countries argue that joining the U.S. naval blockade would amount to entering the war, but that they would be willing to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open once there is a lasting ceasefire or the conflict ends. This is one of the issues being debated in Nicosia at the EU summit, which on Friday will also host leaders from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria to hear firsthand about the situation in the region.

“The situation in the Middle East and the crisis caused by this war demonstrate the failure of brute force and the importance of safeguarding and strengthening the international order,” Sánchez said from Nicosia, where calls for de-escalation are widespread.

But the Trump administration warns that NATO cannot be a one-way street and has expressed frustration with Spain. Sánchez has already stated that he would not allow his bases or airspace to be used to attack Iran. The United States has two major military bases in Spain: a naval base in Rota and an air base in Morón.

That said, Spain is not the only country that, since the new conflict in the Middle East began with the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran — without warning their allies — has placed limits or conditions on the use of military bases used by the U.S. on European soil. The United Kingdom, France, and even Italy have also restricted the use of these facilities or banned military aircraft bound for the Middle East from flying over their airspace.

The policy options outlined in the email would be intended to send a strong signal to NATO allies with the goal of “decreasing the sense of entitlement on the part of the Europeans,” the official said, summarizing the email.

The option to suspend Spain from the alliance would have a limited effect on U.S. military operations but a significant symbolic impact, the email argues. The official did not disclose how the United States might pursue suspending Spain from the alliance.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to expel Spain from NATO; however, the North Atlantic Treaty does not provide for any mechanism to remove members from the organization. The only option would be voluntary withdrawal, as stated in Article 13.

“After the Treaty [which was signed in 1949, and which Spain joined in 1982] has been in force for 20 years, any Party may cease to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation has been given to the Government of the United States of America, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation,” it stipulates.

Speaking from Nicosia, Sánchez noted that Spain is “fulfilling its responsibilities without fail, as the good NATO allies we are,” and insisted that it is capable of meeting, at least for now, its military spending obligations at 2.1% of GDP rather than the 5% target set at last year’s summit in The Hague.

“From our point of view, there is no debate. We are meeting our obligations; we are a loyal partner; we are committed and deployed in many areas that have been requested by the countries themselves. And therefore, there is absolutely no cause for concern,” he concluded.

Falkland Islands

The message also mentions the possibility of reassessing U.S. diplomatic support for European “imperial” possessions, such as the Falkland Islands, near Argentina. The State Department’s website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina, whose president, Javier Milei, is an ally of Trump. The Republican has repeatedly insulted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him a coward for his refusal to join the war, saying he is “no Winston Churchill,” and describing British aircraft carriers as “toys.”

The United Kingdom rejected a U.S. request to allow its aircraft to strike Iran from two British bases, but later agreed to permit defensive missions aimed at protecting residents of the region — including British citizens — amid Iranian retaliation.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this month that “a lot has been laid bare” by the war with Iran, noting that Iran’s longer-range missiles cannot reach the United States, but they can reach Europe. “You don’t have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them. [Trump is] ​simply pointing that out, and ultimately, it’ll be his decision of what that looks like,” Hegseth added.

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