A Pentagon memo is circulating with proposals to punish NATO members that did not support a US-led military strike against Iran, including the potential suspension of Spain from the 32-member alliance. The proposal, first reported by Spanish daily El País and confirmed by a US official to Reuters, has sent shockwaves through the transatlantic security pact, which has no formal mechanism for suspending or expelling a member.
“The position of the Spanish government is clear: absolute cooperation with allies,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Friday, while also stressing that any cooperation must be “within the framework of international law.” Spain, a vocal critic of the US-Israeli military action in Iran, prohibited the use of its military bases and closed its airspace to US military aircraft involved in the attacks.
The memo expresses “very high dissatisfaction” with allies who refused access, and also suggests the US could reassess its pro-British stance on Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands. The UK had also initially prohibited the use of its bases for attacks on Iran. A NATO official told the BBC that the alliance's founding treaty "does not foresee any provision for suspension of Nato membership, or expulsion."
The potential fallout highlights growing transatlantic tensions under President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly questioned the value of the alliance and criticized members for what he sees as insufficient defense spending. While every NATO member met the 2% of GDP defense spending target in 2025, the dispute over the Iran operation has opened a new and potentially more damaging rift. The move could set a dangerous precedent, creating instability within an alliance that has been the bedrock of European security for over 75 years.
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