Pentagon email suggests suspending Spain from NATO over Iran stance

An internal Pentagon email has outlined potential measures to punish NATO allies perceived as uncooperative in U.S. military operations against Iran, according to Reuters. The email, which circulated within the U.S. Department of Defense, includes the possibility of suspending Spain from the alliance.

Among the options under consideration detailed in the Pentagon correspondence are suspension of Spain from NATO and a review of the U.S. position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands. The email expresses frustration over what officials characterize as reluctance or refusal by certain allies to grant the United States access to military bases, overflight rights, and other support required for operations against Iran.

Spain has refused to allow the United States to use military bases on its territory for attacks on Iran. The U.S. maintains two military installations in Spain: Rota in Cádiz and Morón de la Frontera in Seville. Spain also closed its airspace to U.S. operations related to the Iran campaign.

The U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, following which Iran restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for what he views as insufficient support for the campaign.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the significance of the Pentagon email during remarks at an informal EU summit in Cyprus on Thursday. "We do not base ourselves on emails. We base ourselves on official documents and governmental positions, in this case those of the United States," Sánchez said. He emphasized that his government works with formal documentation rather than internal correspondence and stated that Spain fulfills its obligations.

NATO clarified Friday that its founding treaty contains no provision for suspending or expelling member states. A NATO official told the BBC that the alliance's founding document "does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion." A NATO spokesperson confirmed to Europa Press that the Washington Treaty, NATO's foundational document, includes no mechanism for member state suspension, expulsion, or limited participation. The only option available to a member state is voluntary withdrawal from the alliance, which remains a sovereign decision of the country itself.

Sánchez reiterated Spain's position on the Iran conflict, stating that his government maintains "absolute collaboration" with NATO while respecting its own constitutional and legal framework regarding military operations.