WASHINGTON D.C. — An internal Pentagon email outlines policy options for the United States to punish NATO allies the administration believes failed to support U.S. operations in the war with Iran. The note expresses frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant access, basing and overflight rights, known as ABO, for the conflict. The options were circulating at high levels in the Pentagon.

According to a U.S. official, the email stated that ABO is "just the absolute baseline for NATO." One option envisions suspending "difficult" countries from important or prestigious positions at the alliance. The options were intended to send a strong signal to NATO allies with the goal of "decreasing the sense of entitlement on the part of the Europeans," the official said.

The email argues that suspending Spain from the alliance would have a limited effect on U.S. military operations but a notable symbolic impact. The memo also includes an option to consider reassessing U.S. diplomatic support for longstanding European "imperial possessions" such as the Falkland Islands near Argentina. The Falkland Islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina, which fought a brief war with Britain over the territory in 1982 that ended with Argentina's surrender after some 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British troops died.

The email does not suggest that the United States withdraw from NATO and does not propose closing bases in Europe, the official said. The official declined to say whether the options included a drawdown of some U.S. forces from Europe.

Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson addressed the internal deliberations. "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 Prime Minister Sanchez responded to reports of the email. "We do not work off emails. We work off official documents and government positions, in this case of the United States," Sanchez said.

Trump criticized NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed to global shipping following the start of the air war on February 28, 2026. Trump also declared he is considering withdrawing from the alliance. He called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer cowardly because of his unwillingness to join the U.S. war with Iran, called him "No Winston Churchill" and described Britain's aircraft carriers as "toys." Britain initially did not grant a U.S. request to allow its aircraft to attack Iran from two British bases but later agreed to allow defensive missions aimed at protecting residents of the region, including British citizens, during Iranian retaliation.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said a lot has been laid bare by the war with Iran, noting that Iran's longer-range missiles cannot hit the United States but can reach Europe. "You don't have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them," Hegseth said.