Pentagon Considers Punishing NATO Members for Not Supporting Operations Against Iran

SadaNews - Amid ongoing tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and NATO, a U.S. official revealed that an internal Pentagon email showed discussions about options to punish alliance members believed not to have supported American operations against Iran.

The official added on Friday that "the options included suspending Spain's membership in the alliance and reviewing America's stance on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands," according to Reuters.

Additionally, it was noted that one of the options mentioned in the email involved suspending "difficult" countries from important or prestigious positions within NATO.

Just days ago, European diplomatic sources and a U.S. defense official revealed that the White House had prepared what resembled a "list of good and troublesome" NATO countries, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to punish allies that refused to support the war against Tehran.

This information came after the U.S. president repeatedly directed criticism at the defensive alliance, describing it at times as a "paper tiger" and at other times as something that only understands pressure.

Since the outbreak of war between Iran on one side and America and Israel on the other, and the near-total stoppage of maritime movement in the vital Strait of Hormuz due to Iranian threats, America's allies rejected Trump's request to send naval ships to reopen the corridor through which five shipments of oil and gas pass globally, which angered the U.S. president.

Especially since Trump had previously criticized the low contributions of some alliance countries to military expenses. He has repeatedly asserted that those countries should increase their contributions to spending, especially since his country bears the largest burden even though, in his opinion, it is not the first to benefit from NATO.