Katya Adler: Europe’s NATO Allies Push Back at Reported US Threat to Spain

European leaders, gathered in Cyprus for their summit, found their discussions derailed by yet another emerging conflict. Despite initial plans to focus on tangible matters like the new EU budget, the atmosphere shifted toward confrontation. The ongoing energy crisis, fueled by the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and now a fresh twist, has strained ties between Europe and the United States, with significant implications for NATO’s cohesion.

Potential Punishment for Spain in NATO?

A leaked email from the U.S. Pentagon, shared by Reuters, hinted at measures to penalize NATO allies perceived as undermining the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. Spain, a key NATO member, was reportedly threatened with exclusion from critical roles in the alliance. However, the NATO treaties do not allow for unilateral expulsion; such action requires consensus among all members.

“We are fulfilling our obligations toward NATO,” said Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, addressing journalists at the summit. He emphasized that the nation would not waver in its commitments, even as tensions with Washington intensified.

Sánchez’s firm stance was echoed by other EU leaders. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten clarified that Spain remains a vital NATO partner, stressing that European nations are actively bolstering the alliance. A senior German official added, “Spain is a NATO member. There’s no reason that should change,” while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni criticized the U.S.-Europe rift as “not at all positive.”

Italy’s political climate has shifted against Trump, prompting Meloni to distance herself from the former U.S. president. She rejected U.S. use of the Sigonella airbase in Sicily for operations against Iran, citing cultural ties to Catholicism and condemning Trump’s remarks on the Pope as “unacceptable.” Trump, who once praised Meloni as a “world leader,” retaliated by calling her “unacceptable” and “no longer the same person.”

NATO’s Tensions Extend to the United Kingdom

The email also targeted the U.K., a long-standing NATO ally. Trump’s frustration with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer persists, particularly over the latter’s refusal to grant U.S. access to military bases before attacks on Iran. The U.K. has since allowed U.S. use of bases for strikes on Iranian targets, including operations to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz. Yet Starmer argues that deeper involvement in the conflict is not in the U.K.’s interest, drawing verbal jabs from Trump.

Spain’s earlier refusal to increase defense spending by 5% of GDP has already annoyed Washington. Now, the leaked email adds to Sánchez’s challenges. While Spain has dismissed the threat, the message underscores a broader pattern of U.S. pressure on European allies, testing the alliance’s unity in the face of global challenges.