The Pentagon has assured that it will put on the table of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, “credible options” to respond to what Washington interprets as a lack of involvement by several NATO allies during the offensive in Iran, in a new episode of friction within the Atlantic Alliance.
The Pentagon press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, has defended that the Department of Defense will work to ensure that the president has alternatives that prevent allies from acting as a "paper tiger" and that they assume their share of responsibility, in line with the White House's critical message towards its partners.
Tension grows with NATO allies
The statements come after reports of an alleged internal exchange in which even the suspension of Spain in NATO was reportedly considered, something that the Alliance itself has denied by recalling that the Washington Treaty does not contemplate mechanisms for expulsion or suspension of members.
In parallel, NATO has insisted that its legal framework does not allow limiting the participation of any member state, thus closing the door to that hypothesis.
Spain defends its role in the Alliance
From the Spanish Government, President Pedro Sánchez has downplayed the credibility of that information and has underlined that Spain has not received any formal communication from the US Administration.
Sánchez has defended that Spain is a "loyal" partner within the Alliance and has insisted that its foreign policy is based on cooperation with allies within the framework of international law.