Washington’s grudge is tenacious. The Trump administration still hasn’t gotten over the refusal of some NATO allies, including Spain, to join the war against Iran. In this context, rumors suggest American consideration of possibly suspending Madrid from the Alliance.
Interrogated on Friday, April 24, at the opening of a summit of EU leaders in Cyprus, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez assured that he feels “no concern.” “Spain is a reliable partner in NATO, and we fulfill our obligations to the Alliance,” he defended in English to the press.
“We do not work based on emails (which, according to reports, would mention such a reflection in Washington),” he also stated in Spanish. “The Spanish government’s position is clear: absolute cooperation with our allies, but always within the framework of international legality,” he continued.
Donald Trump accuses Madrid of refusing to allow the United States to use military bases in Andalusia for airstrikes, threatening to “end all trade” between the two countries. For months, Trump has also criticized Spain for not increasing its military spending to 5% of GDP, as demanded by NATO’s new target promoted by Washington.
The United States does not have the power to exclude Spain from NATO alone. The Alliance operates on the basis of consensus among its members, and the founding treaty does not provide a clear procedure for a president of one country to suspend or expel another member state. Such a decision would require collective agreement, which is highly unlikely politically and legally.
Even if the United States wanted to leave NATO themselves, such a decision could not be made by the U.S. President alone. It would require two-thirds approval by the Senate or congressional approval. This safeguard was established in December 2023, under the Biden administration, to protect American membership in the Alliance.
[Context: The article discusses the tensions between the US and Spain regarding NATO and military cooperation.] [Fact Check: The US cannot unilaterally exclude Spain from NATO. The decision would require collective agreement among NATO members.]
