An internal Pentagon memorandum, recently leaked, has exposed Washington’s consideration of unprecedented punitive measures against NATO allies that did not support the United States during the recent conflict with Iran. This revelation has caused significant concern among European capitals.
The document outlines a strategy of diplomatic and military retaliation targeting member states, with Spain notably facing the harshest consequences for denying the U.S. military access to bases, basing rights, and overflight permissions for operations in the Middle East. Spain’s government justified its refusal as adherence to international law.
In a significant development, the memo proposes the potential suspension of Spain from NATO. This marks a serious escalation in response to Madrid’s firm stance against American military use of Spanish territory for strikes on Iranian targets.
Meanwhile, the memorandum also suggests a reconsideration of the United States’ longstanding support for the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands dispute. This indicates that future American backing of British territorial claims may depend on the UK’s full alignment with U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East.
Additionally, the Pentagon is exploring changes within NATO’s command structure to favor allies actively engaged in combat operations. Proposals include removing officials from uncooperative member states from senior command roles and restricting their participation in future NATO strategic planning.
Despite these assertive measures, the document explicitly excludes the possibility of a complete U.S. withdrawal from NATO or the shutdown of American military bases across Europe. Instead, the focus is on maintaining NATO as an effective combat alliance. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson emphasized that the administration is pursuing “credible options” to ensure allies contribute more than mere symbolic support.
