WASHINGTON: An internal Pentagon email outlines options for the United States to punish Nato allies it believes failed to support US operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the US position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands, according to a US official.

The policy options are detailed in a note prepared by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy adviser, who expressed frustration at some allies’ perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight rights - known as ABO - for the Iran war, said the official.

Colby wrote that ABO is “just the absolute baseline for Nato,” according to the official, who added that the options were circulating at high levels in the Pentagon.

One option in the email envisions suspending “difficult” countries from important or prestigious positions at Nato, the official said.

President Donald Trump has harshly criticised Nato allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz.

He has also declared he is considering withdrawing from the alliance.

“Wouldn’t you if you were me?” Trump asked Reuters in an April 1 interview, in response to a question about whether the US pulling out of Nato was a possibility.

But the email does not suggest that the United States do so, the official said. It also does not propose closing bases in Europe.

The official declined to say whether the options included a widely expected US drawdown of some forces from Europe, however.

Asked for comment on the email, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson responded: “As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our Nato allies, they were not there for us.

“The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations to that effect,” Wilson said.

Spanish PM worried

In reply to a question about the report, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed Spain was a “reliable member” of Nato.

“Spain is a reliable member within Nato” which is fulfilling all its obligations, Sanchez told reporters during a visit to Cyprus for an EU summit.

“As a result, I am absolutely not worried,” he said.

The Socialist leader added: “We don’t work on the basis of emails, we work off official documents and the position that the United States government has set out in this case.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told reporters in Cyprus that “Nato must remain united. I believe it is a source of strength.”

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026