Full story
U.S. weighs NATO sanctions
The United States is considering options to sanction NATO allies over their stance in the war with Iran, including a possible suspension of Spain from the alliance, after an internal Pentagon email suggested measures to penalize allies that, in an American official’s view, had not supported U.S. operations.
“NATO says there are 'no provisions' in its treaties that foresee the suspension or expulsion of any of the alliance's member states, after reports that the United States could attempt to suspend Spain over its stance in the war with Iran”
NATO said there are "no provisions" in its treaties that foresee the suspension or expulsion of any alliance member states, and an NATO official told the BBC that the founding treaty "does not provide any provision for suspending alliance members or expelling them."
The reports also tied the contemplated pressure to access, basing and overflight (ABO) rights, described in the email as "the absolute minimum level for NATO," according to an American official cited by Reuters.
The Spanish president Pedro Sánchez dismissed the reports, telling reporters: "We do not work on the basis of emails. We work with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the United States government."
Pentagon response and Spain
Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson responded to Reuters’ reporting by saying that despite "everything" the United States has done for its NATO allies, they "were not there for us," and he added that the War Department would ensure the president has "credible options" to make allies fulfill their part.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez downplayed the internal email and insisted that "we do not work on emails," while he said Spain’s position is "full cooperation with the allies, but always within the framework of international law."
The BBC reported that Spain refused to permit the use of air bases on its territory for attacks against Iran, and it said the United States has two military bases in Spain: the Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base.
The BBC also reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a press conference to criticize European allies for not helping Washington in its war against Iran, saying "We do not count on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do."
Falklands and next steps
Alongside the Spain suspension option, the internal Pentagon email also suggested reviewing the United States' position on the United Kingdom's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina also claims, and Reuters reported that the Argentine government responded by saying it "reaffirms its sovereign rights over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands".
“The war in the Middle East is upending geopolitical balances all the way to the Western Mediterranean”
The BBC said the email did not suggest the United States could withdraw from NATO or discuss closing bases in Europe, while it reported that an NATO official told the BBC the alliance’s founding treaty does not provide for suspending or expelling members.
The BBC reported that Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged NATO allies to stay united after the Pentagon memorandum, calling the alliance a "source of strength" and saying "We must work to strengthen NATO's European pillar... which must clearly complement the American one."
In parallel, the BBC reported that Trump criticized NATO allies for their reluctance to play a larger role after the U.S.- and Israel's attack on Iran on February 28, and it said Iran restricted maritime transport through the strategic Strait of Hormuz afterward.
