An internal Pentagon email has reportedly outlined a series of punitive options against NATO allies perceived as uncooperative in the war with Iran, including the temporary suspension of Spain from the alliance, according to a US official cited by Reuters.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday said he was "not worried" by the report, emphasizing Spain's commitment to NATO. "We do not work off emails. We work off official documents and government positions," Sanchez told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Cyprus.
Spain, along with Italy and France, refused to allow US aircraft to use its bases or airspace for strikes against Iran. Sanchez was among the few European leaders to condemn the US-Israeli attack on Tehran as a breach of international law.
The email allegedly suggests options such as suspending Spain and reviewing US support for the UK's claim to the Falkland Islands, after the UK initially refused to allow US aircraft to use its bases. The UK later granted permission for defensive missions.
NATO operates by consensus, and there is no mechanism for suspending a member. A German government spokesperson said Spain's membership was not in question. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that NATO "must remain united."
US President Donald Trump has reportedly criticized NATO allies for not joining the war and questioned the purpose of US membership. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed puzzlement, noting that the UK and France are leading efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated: "As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us. The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger."
The email purportedly aims to "decrease the sense of entitlement on the part of the Europeans" and does not suggest US withdrawal from NATO or closure of bases in Europe. The proposed measures are intended to send a strong signal to allies.
Source: www.dw.com