An internal email circulating among senior Pentagon commanders has proposed punitive measures against NATO allies that refused to support United States military operations in the Iran war, according to a US official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. The document, which is neither an official memo nor an executive order, specifically names Spain as a target for sanctions, including possible suspension from the alliance.
The email expresses frustration over what Washington perceives as a lack of solidarity from allies who denied the US access, basing, and overflight rights—known as ABO—for the conflict that began on 28 February. The official described ABO as "just the absolute baseline for NATO," highlighting the depth of US discontent.
Spain in the Crosshairs
Spain is explicitly mentioned in the email after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government was among the first to refuse the use of its military facilities for offensive operations against Iran. Defence Minister Margarita Robles and Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed this publicly in early March. "Based on all the information I have, the bases are not being used for this military operation," Albares told Spanish public television on 2 March.
"We will not lend our bases for anything that is not in the Treaty or consistent with the UN Charter," Albares added, referring to the Rota naval base and the Morón air base. Madrid later closed its airspace to all US aircraft involved in the war. "Neither the bases are authorised, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorised for any actions related to the war in Iran," Robles told reporters.
President Donald Trump called Spain "a terrible ally" and threatened to cut off trade relations. The European Commission defended Spain, vowing to protect EU trade interests. The two US facilities on Spanish soil are critical to US operations on the southern flank of Europe and the Mediterranean. Rota hosts Europe's largest weapons and fuel depot and serves as a staging point for cargo planes, tankers, and bombers bound for Africa and the Middle East, while the naval base houses multiple Navy destroyers integral to NATO's integrated defence system.
NATO as a 'One-Way Street'
Trump has criticised NATO allies for not sending their navies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed to global shipping following the start of the Iran war. He has also floated the idea of withdrawing from the alliance. The email does not suggest such a withdrawal, nor does it propose closing US bases in Europe, the official said. It does, however, envision suspending "difficult" countries from important or prestigious positions at NATO.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the sentiment, telling Fox News: "If we've reached a point where the NATO alliance means we can't use those bases to defend America's interests, then NATO becomes a one-way street." He added: "If NATO is about us defending Europe, but they deny us basing rights when we need them, that's not a very good arrangement."
The alliance's founding charter provides no mechanism for expelling or suspending a member state. The only relevant article, Article 13, allows voluntary withdrawal. This legal reality complicates any punitive measures, though the Pentagon email carries weight as it circulates among senior commanders.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson did not deny the email's existence, stating: "As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us." Wilson added: "The War Department will ensure that the president has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and do their part."
The broader context includes rising tensions over energy security, as EU fuel prices surged over 20% in Latvia and Sweden after the Strait of Hormuz blockade, underscoring the economic stakes for European nations. Meanwhile, Sánchez has warned that the EU's inaction on Israel undermines its credibility on Ukraine, as reported in his recent remarks.
The email's proposals, while not yet official policy, signal a deepening rift within the alliance. European capitals are watching closely, aware that the Pentagon's frustration could translate into concrete actions that reshape NATO's dynamics.
