Pentagon questionnaire raises loyalty concerns among NATO allies
The Pentagon has distributed a questionnaire to NATO allies asking whether they have been "publicly supportive of US foreign policy priorities," according to documents obtained exclusively by Al Jazeera. The three-page document, titled "Questions for NATO Allies & Other Key Stakeholders," was received by an official who shared it with the outlet. Bloomberg News first reported on parts of the questionnaire.
The document also asks whether countries have shown alignment with the US approach to be "strong, clear, and quiet," a phrase used by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May. Another section inquires about restrictions on US access to bases and military flights, and whether allies are willing to reduce or eliminate such restrictions.
The questionnaire is part of a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe, which Secretary Hegseth announced in June. According to a Bloomberg report cited by multiple outlets, the review will consider European countries' ideological positions and support for US policies, including whether a country has supported the 2026 Iran War, placed recent restrictions on US forces, or "publicly opposed" regulations that constrain US business in Europe.
Allies push back on political alignment
A number of NATO allies have balked at the initiative, viewing it as an attempt to align ideologically in exchange for maintaining American security guarantees, according to Bloomberg. One senior defence official from a NATO ally told Al Jazeera: "This administration has been confusing NATO topics with unilateral US military operations."
A senior European official said the questionnaire doesn't explicitly condition US military presence on political loyalty but reflects "the Pentagon's desire to develop the case for specific, almost vindictive force presence reductions."
The questionnaire also asks whether allies have endorsed the "NATO 3.0" concept, and includes questions about purchasing weapons from US defense companies and views on "Made in Europe" defense production initiatives.
Tensions with Spain highlight friction
The issue of base access has become a source of friction amid the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28. Several European countries imposed restrictions on US access to bases and flights after the war started, according to Al Jazeera.
Spain has been a particular point of contention. President Trump berated Spain over its decision to seek an exemption from a 2025 NATO agreement to raise military spending to 5 percent of GDP. In March, Spain closed its airspace to US planes and refused to let the US use bases for attacks against Iran, prompting Trump to threaten to cut trade with Madrid.
Experts warn loyalty tests could backfire
The questionnaire has drawn criticism from former US officials. Jim Townsend, who served in the Pentagon during the Obama administration, said: "We do know this administration cares very much about loyalty." His comment reflects broader concerns that the approach could erode the foundations of the alliance.
In a commentary for Defense One, two authors who served in the Obama and Biden administrations—including at the Pentagon, the White House, and the US Mission to NATO—argued that these "loyalty tests" depart from decades of established practices. They warned that making pass/fail judgments about a country's overarching loyalty, which has never been a condition of NATO membership, could backfire and leave America less safe.
They pointed out that US forces in Europe have been crucial for generating forces in the 2026 war against Iran and helped enable last summer's 12-day war and Operation Midnight Hammer against Iranian nuclear facilities. The authors also noted that Russia has tested NATO unity over the past year with airspace violations, cyber attacks, and sabotage operations.
AFRICOM's headquarters is located in Europe, though the US has a smaller military presence in Africa since the 2023 Niger coup. The authors argued that European defense spending has increased since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but it will take five to ten years for Europeans to provide for their own security. They emphasized the need for strategic enablers in Europe, including lift, refueling, long-range strike, ISR, command-and-control, and nuclear forces.
They also cautioned that rotational forces are often more costly and harder on troops, with unaccompanied tours—a concern if the review leads to a reduction in permanently stationed forces.
The Pentagon did not respond to questions about the questionnaire. Allies are already reacting to the leaked document and pushing back, according to Defense One.