A NATO official stated that the alliance’s founding Washington Treaty contains no provision for suspending or expelling member states. The clarification came after reports suggested that the United States had considered measures targeting Spain. According to those reports, an internal Pentagon email mentioned possible actions against allies that did not support U.S. military operations, including Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the reports, saying Madrid bases its policies on official communications rather than internal correspondence. Speaking to journalists before an informal European Union meeting in Cyprus, he emphasized that Spain cooperates fully with allies but always within the framework of international law.

The reports followed Spain’s refusal to allow the United States to use its bases or airspace for a potential military operation against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously criticized Spain and other NATO allies over such decisions and hinted at reducing the U.S. role within the alliance.