Within the Pentagon, options are being discussed to exert pressure on certain allies of NATO that did not back the U.S. military campaign against Iran. This was reported by Reuters, citing a source familiar with internal communications within the U.S. Department of Defense. Washington’s frustration stems from the refusal of several European countries to provide their military bases and airspace for strikes against Iran. In the U.S. view, such cooperation is fundamental to the functioning of the alliance, and the refusal is seen as a breach of allied obligations.
In these internal exchanges, several retaliatory measures are being considered. Among them: restricting access for representatives of “problematic” countries to key positions within NATO structures, as well as a more radical scenario, suspending the participation of Spain in the alliance.
According to Reuters, the authors of these proposals acknowledge that such steps would have limited impact on U.S. military operations. Their primary goal is political and symbolic. The intention is to send a clear message to allies: NATO membership entails not only security guarantees but also a willingness to support Washington’s military initiatives. The measures under discussion do not include a U.S. withdrawal from the alliance or the closure of American bases in Europe.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House is also considering reducing its military presence in NATO countries that did not support the war led by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The situation surrounding Iran highlights growing divisions within NATO. European countries are increasingly cautious about military escalation, particularly beyond the continent. For Washington, this represents a challenge: the alliance that has underpinned U.S. strategy for decades appears less and less capable of acting as a unified bloc.
