The Government of Donald Trump has sent a document in the form of a questionnaire to NATO members to analyze the ideological loyalty of partner countries within the framework of the review of the U.S. military presence in Europe.
Read more Cover of EL MUNDO on Saturday, August 15, 2026
According to the questionnaire, previewed by Bloomberg, among the questions Washington asks and that the different countries must answer are, for example: “Has the country publicly supported U.S. foreign policy?” What “restrictions” has this country imposed on the U.S. military regarding the use of its bases? This is a direct reference to the stance of European countries in the war against Iran.
In this regard, Spain has been one of the countries most critical of Trump’s military policies, which is why it banned the use of its Moron and Rota bases and limited arms purchases. In fact, Pedro Sánchez’s government has always rejected reaching the 5% military spending demanded by Trump.
Since the start of the war against Tehran on February 28, several NATO member countries (with Spain being the most high-profile case) have closed their airspace or refused to allow the United States to use their bases to carry out offensive missions.
The U.S. troop review must conclude in December and will serve to determine the future of part of the U.S. presence in Europe, including personnel, bases, and capabilities that Washington maintains available for the defense of the Alliance.
