NATO Says No Mechanism to Expel Members After US Debate Over Spain

NATO officials have rejected reports of possible suspension as tensions rise over allies’ support for the US’s war in Iran. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied NATO, Ukrainian and EU flags are seen among others during an Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Warsaw, Poland, on April 3, 2025. (Photo by Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google NATO said Friday there is no mechanism to suspend or expel member states, following reports that the US considered punitive steps against Spain over its stance on the Iran war. A NATO official told the BBC that the alliance’s founding treaty “does not foresee any provision” for suspending or removing members. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The statement comes after Reuters reported that an internal Pentagon email outlined options to pressure allies that declined to support US military operations, including a proposal to suspend Spain . Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the report, saying Madrid acts only on official positions, not internal communications. “We do not work based on emails,” Sánchez said. “We work with official documents and official positions taken… by the government of the United States.” Spain has refused to allow its bases or airspace to be used for strikes on Iran, despite hosting key US military facilities. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for what he describes as insufficient support during the conflict. Earlier on Friday, Reuters, citing a US official, reported that the Pentagon is considering options to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support US operations during the war with Iran, including the possibility of suspending Spain from the alliance. While the proposals are still under discussion and no decisions have been announced, analysts said the debate highlights deepening divisions within NATO and within the US amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Other Topics of Interest Taiwan Defense Concerns Rise After US Munitions Depletion in Iran War Unnamed US officials have warned that stockpile shortages could limit the US’s ability to respond to a potential conflict with China in the near term. Tensions within NATO have intensified since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran in late February , particularly over the use of European bases and naval support in the Persian Gulf. On April 18, Trump lambasted NATO during a Turning Point Action event in Arizona, accusing the alliance of failing to support the US and Israel in the conflict. Addressing a supportive crowd that booed at the mention of NATO, Trump said the alliance is “absolutely useless when we needed them.” He compared the alliance’s current stance to a donor attempting to contribute to a political campaign after the election has already been won. “Campaign contributions after I won don’t count,” Trump said. “And NATO, after we won, that doesn’t count either.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte previously attempted to soften Trump’s stance by highlighting European contributions to logistics and overflights, but the White House maintains that the alliance “turned its back on the American people.” Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.