Kathmandu— The United States Department of Defense has reportedly been questioning its NATO allies on their political loyalty and adherence to the Trump administration’s vision for the transatlantic alliance, according to documents obtained by Al Jazeera. The questionnaire asks pointed questions about public support for US foreign policy, alignment with Washington's approach to international issues, and willingness to lift restrictions on US military access to bases and airspace—particularly concerning the ongoing conflict involving Iran. These inquiries are part of a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe and have sparked debate over whether the US is attempting to leverage its military presence for political alignment.

Questionnaire Focuses on Policy Alignment

The three-page document, titled “Questions for NATO Allies & Other Key Stakeholders”, includes queries about whether allies have been “publicly supportive of US foreign policy priorities” and if they align with the US approach to maintaining a ‘strong, clear, and quiet’ diplomatic stance. This phrasing references comments made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May. The questions appear designed to guide interactions between US officials and their NATO counterparts during the ongoing review of American forces stationed in Europe.

Iran Conflict a Point of Contention

A key focus of the questionnaire centers on restrictions imposed by several European countries on US access to bases and military flights following the start of the conflict involving Iran on February 28. The Pentagon is specifically asking allies if they are “willing to reduce or eliminate any such restrictions.” Experts suggest this reflects an effort by the Trump administration to involve NATO allies in the situation, even though it falls outside the scope of NATO’s collective defense pact. A senior defence official from a NATO ally stated anonymously that “This administration has been confusing NATO topics with unilateral US military operations,” and that “NATO has nothing to do with the Middle East.”

Demands for Increased Defense Spending

The questionnaire also touches on long-standing Trump administration demands for European allies to increase their defense spending and take on more responsibility for their own security, echoing the ‘NATO 3.0’ concept which calls for “more limited US support”. The document references specific instances of disagreement, such as Spain's attempt to seek an exemption from a 2025 agreement to raise military spending to 5 percent of GDP and its earlier decision to close airspace to US planes.

Concerns Over Political Motivation

While one senior European official noted the questionnaire “doesn’t explicitly condition US military presence on political loyalty”, they also suggested it reflects “the Pentagon’s desire to develop the case for specific, almost vindictive force presence reductions” and sends a message to allies to align with the White House agenda. Jim Townsend, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, told Al Jazeera that this administration places significant emphasis on loyalty from both its own personnel and its allies, noting President Trump has “talked to the allies quite sternly about his expectations for their loyalty and support for the US.”

The Pentagon has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the questionnaire, leaving uncertainty about how the findings will be used in future policy decisions.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.