The NATO has clarified that there is no provision for suspension or expulsion of a member state, after a publication reported that the United States was considering targeting Spain because of its stance in the war with Iran.
According to information reported by Reuters, a US official said an internal Pentagon email suggested possible measures to punish allies who, in Washington’s view, have not adequately supported the US campaign.
The same message also referred to the need to reconsider the US stance on the UK’s claim to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, which are also claimed by Argentina.
A NATO official, speaking to BBC, stressed that the alliance’s founding treaty “does not provide for any procedure of suspension or expulsion of membership.”
At the same time, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez dismissed the publication, stressing that his government does not rely on unofficial leaks. “We do not work on the basis of emails. We are working on official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States,” he said.
Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the NATO allies for their stance, accusing them of an unwillingness to take a more active role after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February and Tehran’s subsequent restrictions on shipping through the Sea of Hormuz.
Spain has refused to allow the use of a airbases on its territory for operations against Iran. The country is home to two US military installations, Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base.
