An internal Pentagon email raises different options for United States to sanction NATO allies who, in its opinion, did not support its operations in the war against Iran. Among the measures contemplated are the possible suspension of Spain from the Alliance or the review of the US stance on the British claim to the Falkland Islands, according to a US official who conveyed this to Reuters.
The document reflects Washington's frustration with the reluctance of some countries to grant access, bases, and overflight rights, considered by the United States as a minimum requirement within NATO. Options, according to the same source, have circulated at high levels of the Pentagon and include limiting access for "difficult" countries to relevant positions within the Organization.
The context of these deliberations is marked by the war initiated with the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28 and by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which led President Donald Trump to criticize allies for not sending their navies to help reopen this key maritime route. Trump himself has even raised the possibility that the United States abandons NATO, although the email does not contemplate that measure or the closure of bases in Europe.
Tension with Spain
The tension also extends to specific countries like Spain, whose Government stated that it would not allow the use of its bases nor its airspace to attack Iran. The United States maintains strategic facilities in Spanish territory such as the Naval Base of Rota and the Air Base of Morón. According to the document, an eventual suspension by Spain would have a limited military impact, but a strong symbolic value.
The memorandum also suggests reviewing the US diplomatic backing for territories such as the Falkland Islands, administered by the United Kingdom but claimed by Argentina. This possibility is part of a broader strategy to send a political message to European allies, whom the Trump administration accuses of maintaining a “sense of entitlement” in the transatlantic relationship.
The divergences within NATO have become more pronounced during the conflict. Countries like United Kingdom and France have pointed out that participating in the naval blockade would mean entering directly into the war, although they show themselves willing to collaborate on maritime security once the conflict ends or a ceasefire is reached.
From the Pentagon, its spokesperson Kingsley Wilson underlined that the Department of Defense works to offer the president “credible options” that guarantee allies fulfill their commitments. In the same vein, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth affirmed that the war has evidenced doubts and obstacles within the alliance, questioning its solidity if some countries are not willing to support the United States in key moments.