NATO has clarified that its founding treaty contains no provisions for the suspension or expulsion of member states, following a report suggesting the U.S. might seek to suspend Spain over its stance on the conflict involving Iran.
Report of U.S. Intentions and Spain’s Response
A Reuters report, citing a U.S. official, indicated an internal Pentagon email had proposed measures for the U.S. to penalize allies perceived as unsupportive of its campaign. This email reportedly suggested reviewing the U.S. position on the UK’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
A NATO official confirmed to the BBC that the organization’s treaty “does not foresee any provision for suspension of Nato membership, or expulsion.”
Spain’s leader, Pedro Sánchez, has dismissed the report, stating, “We do not work based on emails. We work with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States.” Sánchez emphasized Spain’s support for “full cooperation with its allies, but always within the framework of international law.” Spain has notably refused to allow the use of air bases on its territory for attacks on Iran, despite the U.S. having two military bases there.
UK’s Position and Broader NATO Context
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has asserted that greater involvement in the conflict or the current U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports is not in the UK’s interest. The UK has, however, permitted the U.S. to use British bases for strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, and RAF planes have participated in missions against Iranian drones. The UK, France, and other nations have expressed willingness to keep the Strait of Hormuz open following a lasting ceasefire or the end of the conflict.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has frequently criticized NATO allies for their perceived reluctance to contribute more, particularly after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, leading to Iran’s subsequent restriction of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump previously described NATO as a “one-way street,” where the U.S. protects allies without reciprocal benefits.
NATO’s Purpose and Spending
NATO, founded by countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, the UK, and the U.S., was primarily established to counter Soviet expansion in Europe. While it lacks its own army, member states collaborate to deploy forces in response to international crises, such as interventions in the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.
NATO members are currently expected to allocate at least 2% of their national income to defense, a target agreed upon to increase to 5% last June under pressure from Donald Trump. This spending is typically split between defense and infrastructure projects. Countries geographically close to Russia, like Poland and the Baltic states, along with the U.S., traditionally spend the most.
Pentagon Email Details and International Reactions
The internal Pentagon email reportedly stated that access, basing, and overflight rights (ABO) were “just the absolute baseline for Nato.” As potential retaliation for perceived lack of cooperation, the email suggested reassessing American diplomatic support for longstanding European “imperial possessions” such as the Falkland Islands. Another option outlined was suspending “difficult” countries from important positions within the alliance. The memo reportedly does not suggest a U.S. withdrawal from NATO or the closure of European bases.
On Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged NATO allies to maintain unity, emphasizing the alliance as a “source of strength” and advocating for strengthening NATO’s European pillar to complement the American one. A German government spokesperson affirmed Spain’s NATO membership was not in question.
The Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina, are a British overseas territory disputed by Argentina, which led to a war in 1982.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson commented on the situation, stating that despite U.S. contributions to its NATO allies, “they were not there for us.” She added, “The War Department will ensure that the president has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations to that effect.”
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