NATO does not have any provision to suspend or expel member states, officials have clarified, following reports that the United States considered punitive measures against allies such as Spain over their stance on the ongoing Iran conflict.
The clarification comes after a Reuters report cited a US official as saying an internal Pentagon email explored options to pressure NATO allies deemed insufficiently supportive of Washington’s military campaign against Iran. Among the ideas reportedly discussed were limiting certain countries’ influence within the alliance and reassessing US diplomatic positions on sensitive geopolitical issues.
However, a NATO official told the BBC that the alliance’s founding treaty “does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion,” effectively ruling out such actions regardless of internal disagreements.
The report specifically mentioned Spain, which has refused to allow US forces to use its military bases for strikes against Iran. The US operates two key bases in Spain—Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base—making Madrid’s position particularly significant.
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Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the report, stressing that his government operates based on official communications rather than leaked correspondence. “We do not work based on emails. We work with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States,” he said. Sánchez added that Spain supports cooperation with allies, but strictly “within the framework of international law.”
Tensions within NATO have intensified following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which were followed by Tehran restricting shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has raised global economic concerns and prompted discussions among Western allies about safeguarding the strategic waterway.
While the United Kingdom has allowed US forces to use its bases for operations and has participated in defensive missions against Iranian drones, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also signaled caution. He stated that deeper involvement in the conflict or participation in a US-led blockade of Iranian ports would not serve the UK’s national interest.
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According to the Reuters report, the internal Pentagon memo suggested that basic cooperation—such as access, basing, and overflight rights—should be considered the minimum expectation from NATO allies. It also floated the possibility of reviewing US support for longstanding European territorial claims, including the UK’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, a disputed territory also claimed by Argentina.
The Falklands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina, have been a point of contention for decades and were the focus of a brief but intense war between the UK and Argentina in 1982.
Despite the strong language reportedly contained in the memo, the US official cited by Reuters said it did not propose withdrawing from NATO or closing American bases in Europe. Instead, it reflected internal deliberations on how to ensure greater burden-sharing among allies.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson appeared to echo that sentiment, stating that despite extensive US support for NATO partners, “they were not there for us.” She added that the Department of Defense would provide the president with “credible options” to ensure allies contribute more effectively.
President Donald Trump has long been a vocal critic of NATO, frequently accusing member states of failing to meet their defense obligations. He recently described the alliance as a “one-way street,” arguing that the US bears a disproportionate share of the burden.
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While the leaked email has sparked concern, analysts note that it underscores ongoing political tensions within NATO rather than signaling any immediate structural changes to the alliance.
