By Elsie Kamsiyochi
An internal discussion inside the U.S. Department of Defense has revealed how seriously the Trump administration is considering reshaping relations with some of America’s closest NATO partners after disagreements over the recent conflict with Iran.
According to a senior U.S. official, a Pentagon policy memo examined possible steps Washington could take against allies that were seen as unwilling to fully support American military operations during the war, signaling growing frustration within the administration over what it views as an uneven alliance.
The document, reportedly prepared by senior Pentagon policy adviser Elbridge Colby, focused on countries that allegedly denied or limited American requests for military access, basing rights, and airspace permissions during the campaign against Iran.
Those requests, commonly known in military circles as access, basing, and overflight rights, are often considered essential for modern coalition warfare. The official said the memo described such cooperation as the minimum expected from alliance members, and suggested that some governments had fallen short of that obligation.
Among the more dramatic proposals discussed was the idea of suspending Spain from certain NATO responsibilities or prestigious positions within the alliance. While such a move would likely have little direct effect on day-to-day military operations, it would send a powerful political message to European governments that Washington expects stronger support in times of crisis. The administration has reportedly become especially irritated with Madrid after Spain’s government refused to allow its territory and military facilities to be used in offensive operations connected to the Iran conflict.
Spain hosts two strategically important American military installations — Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base — both of which have long been central to U.S. military planning in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. For American officials, Spain’s reluctance to become more directly involved in the Iran war has become symbolic of what some in Washington see as a broader European dependence on U.S. security while avoiding equal responsibility.
The memo also reportedly explored a wider review of American support for longstanding European territorial claims. One idea under discussion involved reconsidering Washington’s diplomatic stance on the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas.
The islands have remained under British control since the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina, but they continue to be claimed by Buenos Aires. Any shift in U.S. policy on that issue would represent a significant break from decades of consistent American support for the United Kingdom.
British leaders moved quickly to reject any suggestion that the status of the islands could be reopened. Officials in London reiterated that sovereignty belongs to Britain and stressed that the islanders’ right to self-determination remains the central principle. Still, the fact that such an option was reportedly included in Pentagon discussions illustrates how broad the administration’s review of alliances may have become.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members in recent months, arguing that too many allies rely on the United States for protection while refusing to stand beside Washington when American interests are under threat. The war with Iran appears to have intensified those complaints, particularly after several European nations declined to join efforts to secure shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz during the height of the conflict.
Although the Pentagon memo does not reportedly call for a full U.S. withdrawal from NATO, it reflects an increasingly confrontational attitude toward the alliance. Defense officials have emphasized that the administration wants to ensure America’s partners contribute more than symbolic support and demonstrate concrete military cooperation when called upon.
European diplomats are now watching closely for signs that these internal discussions could become official policy. Even if no immediate action is taken, the emergence of such proposals underscores a widening divide between Washington and several NATO capitals at a moment when global security tensions are already running high.
The debate may ultimately determine not only the future of U.S.-European relations, but also the long-term stability of the alliance itself.
Source Reuters
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