Spain’s refusal in March 2026 to grant the United States access to the U.S. Naval Station in Rota and the Morón Air Base for strikes against Iran marked a clear act of disloyalty inside the alliance. Madrid not only denied basing and overflight rights but also closed its airspace to American aircraft, forcing the Pentagon to relocate 15 U.S. aircraft.

However, leaked internal documents show Washington is now exploring ways to punish Spain. President Trump has threatened to sever all trade ties. This episode reveals a hard geostrategic truth: the United States cannot expel Spain from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but it possesses powerful tools to contain Madrid’s unreliability and enforce alliance discipline.

The founding treaty of NATO contains no provision for suspending or expelling a member. Only Article 13 allows voluntary withdrawal after a one-year notice. NATO itself confirmed this on April 24, 2026. Spain therefore retains its full membership and the Article 5 collective defense guarantee. Yet its decision to withhold critical support during active combat operations against Iran—while actively aiding the enemy with Western military equipment—undermines the alliance at a dangerous moment.

Geostrategically, Spain’s location is invaluable. The U.S. Naval Station at Rota and the Morón Air Base, positioned near........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)