Spain and UK Reject U.S. Pentagon Memo Suggesting NATO Suspension and Falklands Policy Shift
Spain and the United Kingdom have dismissed reports of an internal Pentagon memo suggesting the United States could suspend Spain from NATO and reconsider its support for British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Both governments emphasized that foreign policy decisions are based on official channels, not leaked communications.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated his government does not act on unverified emails, reaffirming Spain’s commitment to NATO while maintaining its opposition to the U.S.-led military actions in Iran. “We function with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States,” Sánchez said during a press briefing at the European Union summit in Cyprus.
A NATO official confirmed to the BBC that the alliance’s founding treaty contains no provision for suspending or expelling member states, directly contradicting the speculative nature of the reported memo. The official added that NATO’s framework does not allow for such measures under any circumstances.
Similarly, the UK government downplayed the significance of the leaked document, with a spokesperson for 10 Downing Street stating that Britain’s position on the Falkland Islands remains unchanged and is not subject to internal U.S. Deliberations. The Ministry of Defence reiterated that the sovereignty of the Falklands is non-negotiable and backed by the islanders’ democratic right to self-determination.
The reported memo, first disclosed by Reuters, allegedly outlined potential responses to NATO allies perceived as insufficiently supporting U.S. Operations following the Iran-Israel conflict in February 2026. Among the options discussed were restricting Spain’s access to NATO intelligence and reviewing U.S. Stance on the Falklands dispute, where Argentina continues to assert its claim.
Spain has denied U.S. Military requests to use its bases—Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base—for strikes on Iran and has closed its airspace to U.S. Aircraft involved in the region. Sánchez has repeatedly characterized the Iran conflict as illegal and warned against escalating regional instability.
Despite tensions, both Madrid and London stressed their ongoing cooperation with NATO allies on shared security challenges, while insisting that alliances must be grounded in mutual respect and international law.