The US wanted to punish NATO allies. The Spaniards would be cut off from membership, the British would be threatened with the Falklands

Suspension of Spain’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance or reassessment of American diplomatic support for British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

American disappointment at the reluctance of European states to get involved in the conflict with Iran grew into another crisis in NATO.

Reuters reported on Friday about an internal e-mail circulating in the upper echelons of the US Department of Defense.

The email, according to the agency, lists options for how the United States could punish its allies and send a signal to “the Europeans to reduce their entitlement mentality,” an unnamed official told the agency.

According to the agency, the internal report admits that the eventual suspension of Spain’s membership in NATO would have a minimal impact on American military operations, but symbolically it would be a significant step.

The decline in confidence is mutual, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in an interview with the Financial Times he said he was unsure whether the United States would honor its NATO commitment to defend Europe in the event of a Russian attack. Tusk added that the European Union should become a “real alliance”.

They demand the “bare minimum”

Donald Trump already threatened Spain with a trade embargo. The reason is Madrid’s decision to deny American aircraft participating in the war against Iran entering its airspace and using Spanish air bases.

US aircraft still have the right to use Spanish airspace and airports in the event of an emergency. US missions that do not concern Iran continue and Spain still provides navigational assistance to US military aircraft outside its airspace, he wrote three weeks ago El País newspaper.

A leaked e-mail from the Pentagon refers to the right of access, basing, and overflight (ABO) as the “absolute minimum” within NATO.