Spain illustrates the lie of coalition warfare.....

via USNI

A Spanish guided-missile frigate is temporarily dropping out to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group over the U.S. shift in operations toward Iran, according to statements from Spanish defense officials.

ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104) started operating as part of the strike group when it arrived in U.S. 6th Fleet in April and had planned to join USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) for its deployment and homeport change to San Diego, Calif.

However, the U.S. repositioning of the strike group in response to increased risk from Iran has changed the situation for Spain – at least temporarily.

“The U.S. government has taken a decision outside of the framework of what had been agreed with the Spanish Navy,” acting defense minister Margarita Robles told reporters in Belgium, reported Reuters.

Story here. 

This has been a long time coming.

Don't get it twisted either.  I have nothing against Spain for their decision. Their ship, foreign policy and relations with Iran.

We don't get a call in that and they have to do what they consider is in their best interest.

But it does show the lie that is coalition warfare/cross training/joint exercises.

It's all nonsense.  To be more precise its bullshit on a stick.

Yeah.

We should take advantage of training opportunities.  We should seek allies WHEN possible.  But we can't fool ourselves.

There will be times when we WILL stand alone. 

We are capable of operating at a pace, with more capabilities and across a wider range than any ally.

Quite honestly in real world situations we have been at times slowed because of how our allies operate and their inability to keep up.

What does this "irregularity" have to do with the future?

EVERYTHING!

If an ally will pause because of Iran then what do you think will happen when we cross swords with China?

Additionally we could face the worst of all possible worlds.  We're faced off against a deceitful China, Russia sides with them because of our recent sanctions stance and our presumed allies in the region stay on the sidelines.

Do you want to have your children...who might be Sailors and Marines and Soldiers and Airmen...fighting against two peer powers?

Do you want them in that fight when every war plan includes having allies fighting with us that might instead stay on the sideline?

Yeah, I thought so.

So how do you fix it?

You plan on fighting solo now.  You don't waste time with dog and pony exercises that are just for the visuals.  You train against a challenging scenario against an implacable foe.

You take the lesson of Spain dropping out as a warning for the future.