"The NATO founding treaty does not contemplate any mechanism for the suspension of membership or expulsion." The North Atlantic Treaty Organization responds in this way to the plan being considered by the Pentagon, which became known this Friday, and by which the US Department of Defense would be exploring the possibility of suspending Spain from the Alliance.
A NATO official confirms to EL MUNDO that this possibility does not exist. It is not included in the Organization's treaty. And that a country's exit can only be initiated by the country itself. It is voluntary and not forced by another country, even if that other nation is the main partner and holds significant power within the Alliance.
According to information published this Friday by Reuters, the Pentagon is exploring ways to punish countries that have not collaborated with the US in the Iran war. Specifically, those who have refused to grant the US access rights, bases, and overflight (ABO, in English). And this is the case of Spain.
The internal email discussing this possible expulsion talks about "frustration," and emphasizes the line that US President Donald Trump has expressed on more than one occasion. But this time it is not just a bombastic statement from the tycoon, it is a Pentagon strategy. The anger in the US Administration is evident and significant.
Pedro Sánchez, on his part, has tried to downplay this significant revelation. "We do not work based on e-mails, we work based on official documents and positions taken, in this case, by the US Government. The position of the Spanish Government is one of absolute collaboration with the allies, but always within the framework of international legality," he stated upon arrival at the European Council meeting in Nicosia (Cyprus).
"We are good allies of NATO, we have forces deployed in Eastern Europe to defend territorial integrity. This year, for the first time since 2014, we have reached that 2.1%, therefore, from our point of view, there is no debate: we fulfill our obligations, we are a loyal partner. We comply, we are deployed in areas requested by countries. Absolute tranquility," he emphasized.