Suspend Spain from Nato: Pentagon email

An internal Pentagon email outlines options for the US to punish Nato allies it believes failed to support its operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the US position on Britain’s claim to Falkland Islands, a US official said.

The policy options are detailed in a note prepared by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy adviser, who expressed frustration at some allies’ perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the US access, basing and overflight rights — known as ABO — for the Iran war, said the official.




Colby wrote that ABO was “just the absolute baseline for Nato”, according to the official, who added that the options were circulating at high levels in the Pentagon. One option envisions suspending “difficult” countries from important or prestigious positions at Nato, the official said.

President Donald Trump has harshly criticised Nato allies for not sending their navies to help open Strait of Hormuz. He has also declared he is considering withdrawing from the alliance. “Wouldn’t you if you were me?” Trump said in an April 1 interview.

But the email does not suggest that the US do so, the official said. It also does not propose closing bases in Europe.

Asked for comment on the email, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson responded: “As President Trump has said, despite everything that the US has done for our Nato allies, they were not there for us. The war department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations to that effect.”

Asked whether it was possible to suspend an ally, a Nato official said “Nato’s Founding Treaty does not foresee any provision for suspension of Nato membership”.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez said the country was a “reliable member” of Nato and fulfilled all its obligations. “As a result, I am absolutely not worried,” he said.