US mulls expelling Spain from Nato for failing to back war on Iran

Leaked Pentagon email suggests range of measures including recognizing Argentinian sovereignty over Falkland Islands

By Alex MacDonald

Published date: 24 April 2026

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/trump-threatens-punish-nato-allies-failing-back-us-over-iran

The US has threatened to "punish" its Nato allies for their lack of support in the war on Iran, including ejecting Spain from the alliance.

An internal Pentagon email seen by Reuters outlined a range of possible options for the US to inflict consequences on its allies.

Among the other measures considered were recognising Argentina's claims over the Falkland Islands, which the South American country calls Las Malvinas, to punish the UK, and blocking "difficult" countries from important or prestigious positions within the alliance.

President Donald Trump, who has long criticised what he sees as a power imbalance between the US and other members of Nato, has made no secret of his frustration at Europe's opposition to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

In early April, he repeated his threat to pull the US out of the alliance, something that the Pentagon email does not suggest.

Spain has been the most prominent and forthright critic of the war on Iran, declaring it illegal from the outset and forbidding the US from using its bases or airspace for the conflict.

The Pentagon email described these two factors as "just the absolute baseline for Nato" in terms of members pulling their weight.

On Friday, Spain hit back at the reports, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stating that his country was following all its obligations under the alliance.

"Spain is a reliable member within Nato" that is fulfilling all its obligations, Sanchez told reporters in Cyprus, where he was attending an EU summit.

"As a result, I am absolutely not worried," he said.

Falkland Islands threat

The UK's opposition to the war on Iran was less absolute than Spain's, still allowing US planes to use British bases, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer has still earned Trump's ire.

Argentina's far-right President Javier Millei, a close ally of Trump, has stated his support for the Falkland Islands coming under his country's control on a number of occasions.

The islands were invaded by Argentina in 1982, leading to a conflict between the two countries that resulted in the deaths of almost a thousand people. The territory remains under British control.

Middle East Eye contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment on the Pentagon email and what the likely UK response would be if enacted.

The ministry pointed to an X post by Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for UK Overseas Territories, who said the "self-determination, sovereignty and defence of the Falkland Islands" was "resolute - and will always come first." 

They did not comment on how the government would respond to the US move, however.

Asked for comment on the email by Reuters, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson responded: "As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our Nato allies, they were not there for us.

"The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations to that effect."