U.S. Defense Department officials discussed the possibility of suspending Spain’s membership in NATO, Reuters reported, reflecting frustration over what was described as Spain’s lack of cooperation during the Iran war.
Reuters, citing a U.S. government official, said the idea was raised in an internal Pentagon email.
Spain was reported to have denied U.S. requests to use Spanish bases and airspace during U.S. operations in the Iran war. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rejected the reports at a European Union summit in Cyprus, saying, “Spain is a reliable NATO member and is fulfilling all its obligations.”
“We do not work by email. We work based on official documents and the official position of the U.S. government,” Sanchez said, adding, “We are not concerned.”
Many observers said an actual suspension is unlikely. The Associated Press reported that NATO has no explicit mechanism to suspend or expel a member, while the alliance’s founding treaty sets out procedures for voluntary withdrawal.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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