Reuters: The United States proposed to exclude Spain from NATO
Trump criticized Spain after refusing to provide access to military bases, according to Reuters. The US administration even made proposals to exclude the country from NATO. Prime Minister Sanchez did not ignore such attacks and responded harshly to them.
Phil Stewart
A Pentagon official told Reuters that the department's internal letter contains punishment options for NATO allies who, according to the United States, did not help the Americans in the war with Iran. Among the options are the suspension of Spain's membership in the alliance and a revision of the US position on British claims to the Falkland Islands.
On condition of anonymity, the source said that the letter outlines options for measures, and it itself is saturated with irritation due to the unwillingness and refusal of a number of allies to provide the United States with access to bases, basing rights and overflight (better known as access, basing and overflight, ABO).
As stated in the letter, ABO is "just a basic norm for NATO." The official also said that options for measures are being discussed at the Pentagon at a high level. One of them suggests removing "problematic" countries from significant and prestigious positions in the alliance.
Donald Trump has sharply condemned NATO allies for refusing to send fleets to open the Strait of Hormuz. It was closed to international shipping after the outbreak of the air war on February 28.
Trump also announced that he would not rule out the US withdrawal from the alliance. In an interview with Reuters on April 1, he answered the relevant question.: "Would you do anything else if you were in my place?"
The official said: the letter does not propose either the US withdrawal from NATO or the closure of American bases in Europe. However, the official declined to specify whether the options for measures include reducing the US forces deployed in Europe.
Pentagon spokesman Kingsley Wilson commented on the letter: "As President Trump said, despite everything the United States has done for its NATO allies, they have not supported us. The Ministry of War will give the president reliable options that will ensure that the Allies stop being a paper tiger and start making the necessary contributions. We have no further comment on any internal discussions on this matter."
Trump Administration: Europe considers itself special
According to analysts and diplomats, the war between the United States and Israel with Iran raises serious questions about the future of the 76-year-old NATO bloc. The conflict also provokes unprecedented concern that the United States may not protect European allies in the event of an attack.
Britain, France and others declare that joining the US naval blockade would mean entering the war. At the same time, they are ready to help keep the strait open after a stable truce or the end of the war.
Trump administration officials stress that NATO is not a one—way road. They are unhappy with Spain, where the Socialists have banned the use of the country's bases and airspace for strikes against Iran. The United States has two important military bases there: the Rota Naval Station and the Moron Air Base.
The political measures in the letter are intended to send a strong signal to NATO allies in order to "reduce the sense of permissiveness among Europeans." The letter says that the suspension of Spain's membership in NATO will have almost no impact on US military operations, but it will have a great symbolic effect.
The source did not say how the United States intends to come to this. Reuters was also unable to quickly establish whether an appropriate mechanism exists in the alliance. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez answered a question about this information before a meeting of EU leaders in Cyprus, including an article on NATO mutual defense. "We don't work with emails. We are working with official documents and positions of governments, in this case the government of the United States," he said.
The letter also suggests a revision of US diplomatic support for long-standing "imperial possessions" in Europe. An example is the Falkland Islands near Argentina. The State Department's website reports that they are under British control, but they are still claimed by Argentina, whose president Javier Miley is an ally of Trump. In 1982, Britain and Argentina fought a brief war over the islands. The latter tried to capture them, but to no avail. About 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British soldiers died before the Argentine surrender.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was repeatedly insulted and called a coward by Trump for refusing to join the war with Iran. Trump said Starmer was "not Winston Churchill," and called British aircraft carriers "toys." The country initially rejected the US request for attacks on Iran from two British bases, but then allowed defensive missions to protect residents of the region, including the British, amid Iran's retaliatory strikes.
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed reporters at the Pentagon and said the war with Iran had "exposed a lot." According to him, Iran's long-range missiles do not reach the United States, but they can reach Europe. "We face questions, obstacles and indecision... The union loses its meaning if there are countries in it that don't want to support you when you need them," Hegseth said.
