NATO officials said Thursday the United States cannot suspend Spain from the alliance, pushing back against reports of an internal Pentagon email suggesting such a move amid tensions over the war with Iran.
The alliance stressed that membership is governed collectively by all allies and no single country has the authority to expel or suspend another. NATO’s founding treaty allows members to withdraw voluntarily but does not provide a mechanism for suspension or expulsion.
Reuters reported earlier this week that a Pentagon email had floated suspending Spain from NATO and reviewing Washington’s position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands. The note reflected U.S. frustration over allies’ reluctance to grant basing and overflight rights for operations against Iran, calling such access “the absolute baseline for NATO.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the report, saying Madrid only responds to official U.S. government positions, not leaked emails.
The controversy comes as President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO, calling it a “paper tiger” and suggesting the U.S. could withdraw. Despite the tensions, Pentagon operations against Iran continue to rely heavily on bases in Germany, the United Kingdom, Romania, and Greece.
NATO officials said the alliance remains committed to consensus decision‑making and collective defense, underscoring that unilateral suspension of a member state is not possible.
