Dutch Prime Minister Jetten supports Spain in NATO-discussion with US
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has voiced his support for Spain amid a dispute over NATO’s direction and the role of critical allies. According to Jetten, it is “absolutely clear” to all EU leaders that Spain will remain a full member of the military alliance. “And it will remain so,” he said on Friday after the EU summit in Cyprus.
The remarks follow leaked US plans suggesting that the United States is considering punishing so‑called recalcitrant NATO allies, for instance by temporarily suspending them. Spain is mentioned in those internal communications as a possible target.
According to the reports, Spain has come under fire for opposing a sharp increase in defence spending by all NATO members and for the strong criticism voiced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the war against Iran. The proposals are said to fit into a broader US pressure campaign aimed at pushing European allies to raise their military contributions.
With Trump last week
Jetten said he had taken note of the leaked emails. He added that he spoke with US President Donald Trump last week about Trump’s repeated complaints that Europe should take greater responsibility for its own security. The Dutch prime minister stressed that European countries are in fact currently investing more to strengthen NATO. “That is also in the American interest,” Jetten said.
In response to questions from Dutch journalists, Jetten said he had not received a phone call from Trump warning or threatening the Netherlands. “No, certainly not,” he said. As for Spain, the prime minister said he wanted to be “absolutely clear” in expressing his support.
NATO-rules
Formally, the proposed US measures would be difficult to implement. Decisions within NATO require the consent of all 32 member states, and the NATO treaty does not provide for the suspension of a member state. Other European NATO countries have also spoken out against the idea of settling internal disagreements within the alliance through punitive measures.
The debate highlights tensions within the alliance over defence spending and political unity, but European leaders say it does not undermine the core of NATO.
