00:01Last week a leaked Pentagon email left officials in Brussels and Madrid ruffled.
00:06It revealed a list of punitive options for allies who refused to assist in the Iran war.
00:11And the most shocking proposal? Attempting to suspend Spain from NATO.
00:16But wait a second, is that even possible?
00:21Spain has been Europe's most vocal voice against the war,
00:24denying refueling and overflight rights at the Rota and Moron bases
00:28for strikes against Iran.
00:30And while Washington calls this the absolute baseline for the alliance,
00:35Madrid maintains these bases cannot be used for actions outside the NATO treaty.
00:40However, despite the threats, the US cannot simply evict a member.
00:44You see, the founding charter provides no mechanism for suspension,
00:48and its Article 13 only allows for voluntary withdrawal.
00:53And experts point out that Spain is well within its rights to protect its sovereignty.
00:58But it's worth noting that this is not the first time this has happened.
01:02In the 1980s, both Spain and France closed their air bases to the US during operations against Libya.
01:09And this is where it gets even more interesting.
01:11The leak suggests the retaliation could extend well beyond Spain.
01:15The Pentagon is reportedly reviewing diplomatic support for the British control of the Falkland Islands,
01:20after the UK also denied US use of its Royal Air Force bases to attack Iran.
01:26And as it appears, US commitment to NATO is fading.
01:29I'm very disappointed in NATO. They didn't do this. They weren't there for us.
01:33We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren't there for us.
01:38European nations are finally building their own foundations.
01:42Last Wednesday, Germany Defence Minister unveiled the country's first military strategy for Bundeswehr,
01:48aiming to build Europe's strongest conventional army by 2039.
01:54The document also acknowledges that with Washington focused on the Indo-Pacific,
01:58the European pillar must assume greater responsibility for its own defence.
02:03So, whether this leads to a stronger alliance or permanent divorce remains the defining question for NATO's annual summit this
02:11July.
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