Washington, United States. An internal Pentagon email outlines options for the United States to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support U.S. operations in the war with Iran, a U.S. official told Reuters. The options include suspending Spain from NATO and reviewing the U.S. position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands, the official said.
Policy options cited in internal email
The policy options are detailed in a note expressing frustration at some allies’ perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight rights, known as ABO, for the Iran war, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the email.
The email stated that ABO is “just the absolute baseline for NATO,” according to the official, who added that the options were circulating at high levels in the Pentagon.
One option in the email envisions suspending “difficult” countries from important or prestigious positions at NATO, the official said.
Trump criticism of allies and NATO comments
President Donald Trump has harshly criticized NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed to global shipping following the start of the air war on February 28.
Trump has also declared he is considering withdrawing from the alliance.
“Wouldn’t you if you were me?” Trump asked Reuters in an April 1 interview, in response to a question about whether the U.S. pulling out of NATO was a possibility.
Scope of proposals and Pentagon response
The email does not suggest that the United States withdraw from NATO, the official said. It also does not propose closing bases in Europe.
The official declined to say whether the options included a widely expected U.S. drawdown of some forces from Europe.
Asked for comment on the email, 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.”
What steps, if any, should NATO allies take to address U.S. concerns about access, basing and overflight rights?
