Spain responds to reported US plans to punish NATO allies

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday said he was "not worried" after a report suggested the US is considering expelling Spain from NATO for failing to support American operations in the war with Iran.

According to a US official cited by Reuters news agency, an internal Pentagon email outlines possible measures targeting NATO allies perceived as uncooperative. Among the options are suspending Spain from NATO and a review of the US stance on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands, the official said.

Spain — along with Italy and France — did not allow US aircraft to use its bases or airspace to attack Iran. Sanchez was also one of the few European leaders to criticize the US-Israeli attack on Tehran that sparked the war, condemning it as a breach of international law.

"We do not work off emails. We work off official documents and government positions, in this case of the United ​States," Sanchez told reporters when asked about the report ahead of an EU leaders summit in Cyprus. 

"The Spanish government's position is clear — absolute cooperation with the allies, but always within the framework of international legality," he said.

"Spain is a reliable member within NATO," Sanchez added. "As a result, I am absolutely not worried."

Given that NATO operates by consensus, it is not clear how a potential suspension would work, as there is no mechanism to allow for such a step.

When asked about the reported Pentagon email, a German government spokesperson said Spain's ⁠NATO ⁠membership was not in question.

"Spain is a ⁠member ​of NATO. ​And I see ​no ‌reason why that should change," ​the ⁠spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said NATO "must remain united." 

"We must work to strengthen NATO's European pillar ... which must clearly complement the American one," she added.

US President Trump once again upset with NATO

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Trump angered by perceived lack of NATO support

US President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of NATO countries that refused to join the war and has questioned the purpose of US membership in the organization. He has also condemned allies for not sending their navies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that has effectively been closed by Iran since the start of the war.

Speaking in Cyprus on Friday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she was puzzled by the US criticism, pointing out that the UK and France were leading an effort to help secure trade in the strait once the war is over.

She said the bloc had met US requests with "exactly what we are able to offer."

"After the cessation of hostilities, demining, escorting of ships, all of this that we have been discussing. So I don't understand if we are actually replying to their requests," Kallas said.

When asked for comment on the email, Department of Defense press secretary Kingsley Wilson responded: "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 and instead do part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations to that effect," he added, referring to the Department of Defense by the moniker it was given by Trump.

How the United States benefits from NATO

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What else was reportedly in the Pentagon email?

According to the source cited by Reuters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the email did not suggest the US withdraw from NATO or close down military bases in Europe.

Rather, the proposed policy options 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.

The email also suggested putting US support for the UK's claim to the Falkland Islands up for review, after the UK's initial refusal to allow US aircraft deployed in the Iran war to use its bases. London later granted permission for "defensive" missions in the conflict.

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister ‌Keir ⁠Starmer ⁠said Friday that the sovereignty of the islands was a matter for Britain.

"We could ‌not be clearer about the ‌UK's ​position on the Falkland Islands. It is long standing, it ​is unchanged," the spokesperson told reporters.

"Sovereignty rests with the ⁠UK ​and the ​islands' right to self-determination is paramount. ​It's been ‌our consistent position and will remain the ​case," ⁠the spokesperson said.

Edited by: Sean Sinico