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US Remarks on NATO Are Pushing Europe to Seek Alternative Security Options, Spain Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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Spain’s foreign minister warns that U.S. criticism and hinted withdrawal from NATO are prompting Europe to pursue its own defense autonomy, including a pan‑European army and deeper integration of defense, digital, and capital markets.
US remarks on NATO are pushing Europe to seek alternative security options, Spain says
European Response to US NATO Remarks
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MADRID, April 7 (Reuters) - Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alternative security arrangements, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday.
US and European Tensions Over Security
After European countries declined to send their navies to open up the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping following the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, U.S. President Donald Trump has declared he is considering withdrawing from the alliance, thrusting it into a crisis.
Spain’s Perspective on NATO Solidarity
Albares said the decision was entirely up to Trump, but underscored that NATO allies stood in solidarity with Washington after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"NATO is a mutually beneficial alliance for both Europeans and Americans ... But the U.S. administration's remarks and new positions on Euro-Atlantic security are inviting us Europeans to take a leap in terms of our sovereignty and defence matters," Albares told La Sexta TV channel.
"We must take our citizens' security and dissuasion into our own hands," he added.
Proposed European Security Initiatives
To do so, he said, the EU should advance toward a pan-European army and integrate its defence industries, but also create a digital single market and a capital markets union.
Spain’s Stance on the War on Iran
Spain's leftist government has become one of the most vocal critics of the war on Iran, which it calls illegal and reckless. It has closed Spanish airspace to U.S. planes involved in the strikes and banned them from using jointly operated military bases in southern Spain. Trump has vowed to retaliate against Spain using trade tariffs.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Andrei Khalip)
Key Takeaways
- •Spanish FM Albares: U.S. remarks on quitting NATO drive Europe to seek security autonomy
- •Spain calls for EU to progress toward a pan‑European army, integrated defense industry, digital single market, and capital markets union
- •Spain’s stance reflects growing U.S.–Europe tensions amid the U.S.–Israel war on Iran and Trump’s trade threats
Frequently Asked Questions about US remarks on NATO are pushing Europe to seek alternative security options, Spain says
1Why is Spain concerned about recent US comments on NATO?
Spain believes that US complaints about NATO are prompting European countries to consider alternative security arrangements beyond the alliance.
2What steps does Spain suggest for European security?
Spain supports advancing toward a pan-European army, integrating defense industries, and creating a capital markets union to enhance European security.
3How has Spain responded to the US-Israeli war on Iran?
Spain has criticized the war, closed its airspace to US planes involved in the strikes, and banned their use of joint military bases in southern Spain.
4What actions has the US threatened against Spain?
President Trump has vowed to retaliate against Spain using trade tariffs in response to its stance on the war and military base access.
5What is Spain's position on the legality of the war on Iran?
Spain's government considers the war on Iran to be illegal and reckless, and has taken strong diplomatic steps to show its opposition.
