US President Trump’s frustration over failed war goals is now costing certain allies dearly.
According to an insider, the US government is considering punitive measures against NATO partners who, in Washington’s opinion, do not sufficiently support the war against Iran. An internal email from the US Department of Defense outlined options that, among other things, described excluding Spain from the alliance, a US government official told the Reuters news agency. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reacted calmly.
The letter expresses frustration that some partners are denying the US access, stationing and overflight rights. However, these are “the absolute basis for NATO,” it says in the email. The measures outlined were aimed, among other things, at excluding “difficult” countries from important or prestigious positions within NATO.
But there is no talk of the USA leaving NATO, said the insider. US President Donald Trump had threatened this several times. It also does not call for the closure of bases in Europe.
A US Department of Defense spokesman said: “As President Trump has said, our NATO allies have not been there for us, despite everything the US has done for them.” The Pentagon will ensure the president has credible options so that allies “stop being a paper tiger and do their part.” Trump had sharply criticized the allies for not sending warships to open the Strait of Hormuz, which had been closed since the start of the Iran war.
The US government has particularly targeted Spain, a member since 1982. The government there had said it would not allow the use of its bases or airspace to attack Iran. The USA has the Rota and Moron bases there. According to the email, excluding Spain from NATO would have limited impact on U.S. military operations but would have significant symbolic significance. The insider left it open how the USA could implement such a step.
Social Democrat Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government in Cyprus on Friday: “We do not work on the basis of emails. We rely on official documents and government positions, in this case the USA.” At the same time, he emphasized his country’s loyalty to the alliance. “The position of the Spanish government is clear: absolute cooperation with the allies,” he told reporters in Nicosia. He restricted that this cooperation could only take place “within the framework of international law”. Sanchez is one of the harshest critics in Europe of the American-Israeli war against Iran.
There was initially no statement from NATO on the report. In principle, the largest defense alliance in the world does not have any procedure that provides for sanctions or even exclusion for undesirable behavior. In addition, Spain is an important ally and it is considered impossible for European partners to help the USA force the country out of NATO. It is conceivable, however, that the USA will use its veto and threat powers to ensure that Spain and other allies that are “difficult” from the US perspective will be able to occupy fewer top positions in the alliance in the future.
Looking at Britain, the US options report considers reconsidering diplomatic support for long-standing European “imperial possessions” such as the Falkland Islands. The islands are administered by Britain but also claimed by Argentina, whose President Javier Milei is a Trump ally. Both countries fought a brief war over the archipelago in the South Atlantic in 1982.
Trump had repeatedly insulted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and described him as a coward because of his restraint in the Iran war. He is “no Winston Churchill” and the British aircraft carriers are “toys”. Britain initially refused to allow the US to attack Iran from two British bases, but later allowed defensive missions to protect its own citizens in the region.
When asked about the latest reports from the USA, a British government spokesman said on Friday that London’s position on the Falkland Islands “could not be clearer”. Sovereignty rests with the United Kingdom and the right to self-determination is of the utmost importance. The spokesman pointed out that the Falkland Islands had voted “overwhelmingly” to remain a British overseas territory. The United Kingdom will not allow itself to be put under pressure. (APA/Reuters/dpa)
