“We do not work off of emails, we work from official documents and position,” says Spain’s PM
WASHINGTON: An internal Pentagon email reportedly outlines potential measures the United States could take against NATO allies it believes did not fully support US operations during the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from alliance roles and reviewing diplomatic positions on other long-standing disputes, a US official told Reuters.
The note, which reflects frustration over some allies’ reluctance to provide access, basing, and overflight rights (ABO) during the conflict, is said to have circulated at senior levels within the Pentagon.
According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the email described ABO as “the absolute baseline for NATO,” and included a range of policy options under consideration.
One proposal reportedly suggests suspending “difficult” member states from key NATO positions, though no formal action has been taken.
US President Donald Trump has previously criticised NATO allies for not providing naval support during tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which was disrupted following the start of the conflict with Iran in February.
He has also raised the possibility of reassessing the US commitment to the alliance, though no withdrawal plan is included in the internal discussion, the official said.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez dismissed the significance of the report, saying his government responds only to official policy, not internal communications.
“We do not work off emails, we work from official documents and positions,” he said.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, responding to the report, said allies must share responsibility within NATO, adding that the Defence Department would ensure the president has “credible options” while declining to comment on internal deliberations.
The email is also said to reflect broader frustration within the US administration over what it describes as European reluctance during the Iran conflict. Officials argue that NATO cooperation should not be one-sided.
The internal document reportedly suggests that symbolic measures, including suspension proposals, would aim to pressure allies and reduce what US officials view as growing European dependence on Washington.
It is unclear whether any formal mechanism exists within NATO to suspend a member state, and no such action has been initiated.
The memo also reportedly references broader diplomatic considerations, including long-standing territorial disputes such as the Falkland Islands, though details remain unconfirmed.
Meanwhile, UK and European officials have maintained that their actions during the conflict were guided by concerns over escalation and legal constraints, rather than unwillingness to support allies.
The report highlights growing tensions within the alliance as the Iran conflict continues to test transatlantic coordination.