U.S. officials cited by Reuters said an email was circulated within the Pentagon listing potential actions the U.S. could take against NATO allies such as Spain and Britain that it believes are not sufficiently supporting the war against Iran.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in an internal email that options were being considered, including suspending Spain’s membership in NATO and reevaluating Washington’s position on the British Falkland Islands, which are also claimed by Argentina.
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The official said the email asserted “a sense of European entitlement” and was intended as a signal to NATO members.
Excluding Spain from the bloc would have little operational impact for the U.S. military and carry symbolic weight, the email said.
Asked about the letter at an EU summit in Cyprus on Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Madrid was a “reliable member” of NATO that was fulfilling all its obligations.
“I’m not worried at all,” he said. “We don’t work by email. We work with official documents and, in this case, the positions taken by the U.S. government.
“The Spanish government’s position is clear: absolute cooperation with our allies, but always within the framework of international legality.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also attended the Cyprus meeting and said NATO “must remain united.”
A German government spokesperson said there was no question of Spain’s membership in the military alliance.
“Spain is a member of NATO and we see no reason why that should change,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hit back, saying the UK’s position on the Falkland Islands “has not changed”.
“Sovereignty remains with the United Kingdom and the right of islands to self-determination is paramount. This has been and remains our consistent position,” the spokesperson said.
Britain and Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982 after Argentina’s failed attempt to occupy them. Approximately 650 Argentines and 255 British servicemen died before Argentina surrendered.
Asked whether Starmer believed the email was a sign of pressure from the US to join the Iran war, a spokesman said: “Pressure has no effect on him and he will always act in the national interest.”
“NATO Baseline”
U.S. officials have long criticized European allies for refusing to allow or refusing to allow bases to attack Iran.
Spain denies the United States any attack on Iran from its airspace or bases. President Trump called Spain “terrible” and threatened to cut off all trade with the country.
The US president also criticized what he saw as insufficient support, accusing Mr Starmer of having “no Winston Churchill” and deriding Britain’s aircraft carriers as “toys”. Initially, Britain did not allow American aircraft to attack Iran from two British bases. Mr Starmer later gave the go-ahead for use for what he called “defensive purposes”.
A reported Pentagon email conveyed the U.S. government’s displeasure, saying bases and overflight rights should be the “gold standard for NATO,” according to a U.S. official cited by Reuters.
President Trump also asked NATO countries to send naval forces to help force the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely cut off to global shipping for two months. He called NATO countries “cowards” for not sending troops and said the 77-year-old military alliance would be a “paper tiger” without the United States.
“The era of free riding is over.”
Tensions between Europe and the United States further escalated on Friday, when US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made comments about the Strait of Hormuz at a press conference, saying “the era of free riding is over.”
“America and the free world deserve capable, loyal allies who understand that being an ally is a two-way street, not a one-way street,” Hegseth said. “We’re not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do, and (they) may want to cut back on conversations and fancy meetings in Europe and go boating. This is a much bigger fight for them than it is for us.”
President Trump has previously hinted at withdrawing the U.S. from NATO, but the Pentagon email does not suggest the U.S. leaving NATO or closing U.S. military bases in Europe, officials told Reuters.
