The United States has threatened to review its support for Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands as punishment for the UK's refusal to support Donald Trump's military action against Iran, according to a leaked Pentagon memo.
The confidential internal email, seen by Reuters, outlines options to penalise NATO allies for their lack of support in the conflict. It suggests reassessing US diplomatic backing for European “imperial possessions”, including the Falklands, which are administered by the UK but claimed by Argentina.
The memo also considers suspending Spain from the alliance for refusing to allow its bases or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said the US War Department will ensure President Trump “has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger”.
President Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO allies, branding the alliance a “paper tiger” and threatening to withdraw. He has also attacked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, calling him “no Winston Churchill” after he initially denied a US request to use British bases for strikes on Iran.
The leaked document highlights tensions between the UK and the Trump administration. An anonymous official told Reuters that access, basing, and overflight rights are “just the absolute baseline for NATO”. The memo does not suggest the US leave the alliance or close European bases, but it does not rule out a drawdown of US forces.
Britain and Argentina fought a war over the Falklands in 1982, which ended with Argentina's surrender after 255 British and 650 Argentine troops were killed. Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei, is a close ally of Trump.
