Spain shrugs off US exit speculation, says it remains a trusted NATO partner

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday reaffirmed that his country remains a “reliable member” of NATO, downplaying reports that the United States was considering punitive steps over Madrid’s refusal to back military operations against Iran.

According to a Reuters report citing a U.S. official, an internal Pentagon email explored possible measures against NATO allies that declined to support the U.S.-Israel war effort, including the idea of suspending Spain from the alliance. The same communication reportedly suggested reviewing Washington’s stance on the Falkland Islands in response to the United Kingdom’s position.

Sánchez, speaking during an EU summit in Cyprus, dismissed the report and expressed confidence in Spain’s standing within the alliance. “Spain is a reliable member within NATO,” he said, adding that his government bases its decisions on official positions rather than internal communications.

Importantly, NATO’s founding treaty does not include any mechanism to suspend or expel a member state, making such a proposal largely symbolic and legally unworkable.

Tensions have grown within the alliance as U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized several European allies — including Spain, France, and Italy — for refusing to allow their bases or airspace to be used for operations linked to the Iran conflict. Spain has maintained that its stance is rooted in international law and supports cooperation with allies only within that framework.

Despite the friction, European leaders have stressed the importance of unity. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the alliance “must remain united,” underscoring concerns that divisions over the Middle East conflict could weaken NATO cohesion.

NATO is scheduled to hold its next summit in Türkiye on July 7–8, where these growing strains are likely to be a key point of discussion.