A leaked internal email from the Pentagon has laid out punitive measures against NATO allies who refused to support the US-led war in Iran, with Spain singled out for potential suspension from the alliance. The document, first reported by Reuters, reflects mounting frustration in Washington over the denial of air base and overflight rights—known as ABO—by several member states.
The email, originating from senior US Department of Defence officials, also considers reassessing American diplomatic backing for the UK's control of the Falkland Islands, a longstanding territorial dispute with Argentina. This dual-pronged approach signals a broader strategy to penalise European allies perceived as obstructing US military operations.
Spain at the Centre of the Storm
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been the most outspoken European leader against the US-Israel military campaign in Iran. From the conflict's outset, Madrid denied Washington access to jointly operated military bases on Spanish soil, describing the strikes as “unjustified and dangerous military intervention.” This stance placed Spain in direct opposition to the Trump administration, which had expected quiet endorsement from allies.
A senior NATO source told Euronews that the email's tone was “not surprising” given President Donald Trump’s long-standing “unhappiness with Europe, and particularly Spain.” The source pointed to Sánchez’s refusal to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP—a target Trump pushed through at last year’s NATO summit in The Hague, with a 2035 deadline. Spain insists it can meet its capability goals by spending just 2%, a position Trump has derided, calling the country a “laggard” and suggesting it should be expelled from the alliance.
“It goes back to the political gamesmanship that Sánchez is deploying to appease his political base,” the source added. “They’re the only country which said they don’t need to spend 5% on defence.”
Sánchez, speaking at an EU leaders summit in Cyprus on Friday, dismissed the leaked report, telling reporters the government relies on “official documents and positions, not informal communications.”
Legal and Political Realities
Despite the Pentagon’s rhetoric, experts argue that suspending a NATO member is legally unfeasible. Dr. Patrick Bury, a former British Army captain and lecturer at the University of Bath, explained: “You can’t kick people out of NATO unless there’s been a material breach of process, which in the case of Spain there is absolutely no evidence.” He noted that NATO countries are “well within their rights to refuse access to military bases,” citing the precedent of France and Spain closing their airspace to the US during the 1986 Libya operation.
Bury also questioned the leak’s timing and purpose. “The bigger question is who leaked this and why did they do it? Was it part of a wider drive to run down NATO, or to send a message to allies to agree to do something regarding the Strait of Hormuz?” The Strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has been effectively shut by Iran’s blockade of Western shipping, triggering energy price spikes and economic disruption.
The email also targets the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly refused to join the war. Washington is reportedly considering withdrawing support for British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, a move that would align with Argentina’s claims—and with President Javier Milei, a close Trump ally. This would mark a dramatic shift in US policy, which has backed UK administration since the 1982 conflict.
Trump’s verbal assaults on NATO have intensified since the Iran war began. He has dismissed the alliance as a “paper tiger” and accused allies of abandoning him. Dr. Bury warned: “He’s run NATO down so much, can it survive the next three years?” The leak, he suggested, may be part of a deliberate strategy to weaken the transatlantic bond.
For now, Spain remains a NATO member, but the episode underscores the fragility of the alliance under Trump’s second term. As the war in Iran continues and the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, the rift between Washington and key European capitals shows no sign of healing.
