The future of NATO

Spain downplays threat of expulsion: “No danger”

A leaked Pentagon email suggests that the US could punish Spain for not helping in the Iran war. It is an email that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez downplays, reports Politico.

– No danger. We are fulfilling our commitments to NATO, he tells the newspaper.

He says that Spain’s position is clear: “full cooperation with allies, but within the framework of international law.”

There is no mechanism in NATO’s founding treaty that allows for the suspension of a member or expulsion. A country can only request withdrawal voluntarily.

Source: Pentagon discusses expelling Spain from NATO

The US Department of Defense is considering expelling Spain from NATO. This is according to an internal Pentagon email seen by Reuters. The email describes various options for how the US could “punish” allies that do not help in the war against Iran, a source said.

In addition to kicking Spain out of the alliance, it also states that the US may reconsider its support for Britain over its claim to the Falklands Islands. It is unclear how the measures would be implemented in practice.

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson would not comment on the specifics, but reiterated President Trump’s criticism of NATO countries that “are not there for the US”.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says that cooperation with the US “is not based on emails”.