In response to recent media reports suggesting that the United States might suspend Spain’s NATO membership, a NATO representative affirmed to the BBC that the alliance’s founding treaty does not include provisions for suspending or expelling member states.
The clarification follows a Reuters report quoting an American official who indicated that internal Pentagon communications had proposed measures to penalize allies perceived as unsupportive of U.S. actions against Iran. The official specifically highlighted Spain’s stance as a point of contention.
The Pentagon’s internal correspondence also mentioned a potential reassessment of U.S. support regarding British claims over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina also contests. This comes amid heightened tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February, which led to Iran restricting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Spain has declined to grant permission for the use of its air bases for strikes against Iran. The U.S. maintains two military installations in Spain: the naval base in Rota and the Morón air base.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the situation, stating he is not concerned about the purported Pentagon letter, as it remains speculative. He emphasized, “We do not operate based on emails. We work with official documents and official positions, which in this case is held by the U.S. government.” Sánchez further noted that Spain maintains full cooperation with its allies, always within the framework of international law.
Previously, reports indicated that former President Donald Trump had compiled a list of NATO countries he deemed “disobedient,” which he allegedly sought to retaliate against.
Recent tensions between the U.S. and Spain have raised questions about NATO membership, prompting clarifications from NATO officials. Spain's refusal to support U.S. military actions against Iran has been a focal point of these discussions.