“The policy options are detailed in a note prepared by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's top policy adviser, who expressed frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight rights – known as ABO – for the Iran war, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the email.”

“Colby wrote that ABO is "just the absolute baseline for NATO", according to the official, who added that the options were circulating at high levels in the Pentagon.”

“As an organisation, NATO has no direct role in the Iran war except to defend its own territory.”

“One option in the email envisions suspending "difficult" countries from important or prestigious positions at NATO, the official said.”

“US President Donald Trump has also harshly criticised NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran largely closed to global shipping following the start of the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran on February 28.”

“Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson responded: "As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us."”

“The US-Israeli war with Iran has raised serious questions about the future of the 76-year-old bloc and provoked unprecedented concern that the US might not come to the aid of European allies should they be attacked, analysts and diplomats say.”

“Britain, France and others say that joining the US naval blockade would amount to entering the war, but that they would be willing to help keep the Strait open once there was a lasting ceasefire or the conflict ended.”

“The policy options outlined in the email would be 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, summarising the email.”

“The option to suspend Spain from the alliance would have a limited effect on US military operations but a significant symbolic impact, the email argues.”

“NATO operates by consensus, and all 32 member countries must agree for it to act.”

“The trans-Atlantic alliance's founding treaty has no mechanism for suspending or ejecting any of the members, although nations may leave of their own accord one year after notifying the other allies.”

“The memo also includes an option to consider reassessing US diplomatic support for longstanding European "imperial possessions", such as the Falkland Islands near Argentina.”

“The State Department's website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina, whose far-right libertarian President Javier Milei is a fierce Trump ally.”

“Britain and Argentina fought a brief but bloody war in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them.”

“Some 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British troops died before Argentina surrendered.”

“A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the sovereignty of the islands rests with Britain.”

“Britain initially did not grant a request from the US 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, as Iran retaliated against countries in the region hosting US military bases.”