An internal Pentagon email reveals potential measures for the U.S. to penalize NATO allies perceived as unsupportive of its actions in the conflict with Iran. These measures include the possibility of suspending Spain from NATO and reassessing the U.S. stance on British claims to the Falkland Islands, according to U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters.
An unnamed official indicated that this memo underscores frustrations related to some allies’ hesitance to allow the U.S. access to bases and overflight rights—referred to as ABO—in the ongoing war with Iran.
The email emphasizes that ABO is essentially the standard for NATO, and it is being discussed at high levels within the Pentagon.
Some options outlined in the email involve suspending certain countries considered “difficult” from prominent roles within NATO, officials noted.
President Donald Trump has been vocal about NATO allies not contributing naval forces to facilitate the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked to global maritime traffic since the air war commenced on February 28.
He also expressed his consideration of withdrawing from NATO altogether.
“Wouldn’t you consider that if you were me?” Trump asked Reuters during an April 1 interview regarding the potential U.S. exit from NATO.
Despite this, officials clarified that the email does not propose such a withdrawal from the alliance or the closure of European bases.
There was reluctance from the official to specify whether this strategy included any military reductions in Europe, which had been previously anticipated.
Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson commented on the email, stating: “As President Trump has mentioned, despite all that we have done for our NATO partners, they have not reciprocated appropriately.”
“The Department of the Army will ensure the president has credible options to make our allies contribute meaningfully. I cannot provide further insight into those discussions,” Wilson added.
Trump administration highlights European “sense of rights”
The ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran has sparked serious discussions on the future of the longstanding NATO alliance, leading to heightened concerns that the U.S. may not respond if European allies face aggression, according to analysts and diplomats.
Countries like Britain and France argue that participating in a U.S. naval blockade might equate to declaring war, although they plan to assist in keeping the Straits open once a ceasefire is in place or the conflict ends.
Officials from the Trump administration have insisted that NATO cannot function as a one-sided relationship, voicing frustration particularly at Spain, whose Socialist Party leadership has stated it will not permit its bases or airspace to support offensive actions against Iran. The U.S. maintains key military installations in Spain, including Rota Naval Base and Moron Air Base.
The policy measures in the email aim at “diminishing the perceived entitlement” among European nations and signaling strengthened expectations from NATO allies, according to a senior official’s summary.
Suspending Spain, according to the email, would likely have more of a symbolic effect than a practical one concerning U.S. military operations.
The official did not elaborate on how the U.S. might pursue Spain’s suspension, and it remains unclear if NATO has mechanisms in place for such actions.
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez responded to the report by emphasizing, “We base our actions on official documents, not internal communications,” ahead of a European Union summit discussing NATO-related mutual support.
The memo also proposes evaluating U.S. diplomatic backing for longstanding European “imperial enclaves,” including the Falkland Islands, contested by Argentina but managed by the United Kingdom.
Following a failed Argentine occupation in 1982, the two nations fought a brief conflict over the islands, resulting in significant casualties on both sides before Argentina ultimately surrendered.
Trump has publicly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him timid for resisting engagement in a potential war with Iran, labeling him “no Winston Churchill,” and dismissing the British aircraft carrier as a “toy.”
Initially, Britain declined a U.S. request to use its bases for strikes against Iran but later agreed to participate in a defense-focused mission to safeguard local civilians, including British nationals, amid retaliatory actions from Iran.
Army Secretary Pete Hegseth recently told reporters at the Pentagon that the conflict with Iran has illuminated various challenges, noting that while Iran’s missiles may not hit the U.S., they pose a threat to Europe.
“We face uncertainties, obstacles, and hesitancies. The concept of allies becomes questionable when certain nations do not stand by us in times of need,” Hegseth remarked.
